Please help us save our sweet Riggins

Two weeks ago, we thought we were going to lose Riggins. Out of nowhere, after many years of being called "the most low maintenance cat in history," he stopped eating and stopped drinking. When the vet came back to us after an initial exam, she shared that he had arthritis, gum disease, a heart murmur and possible heart disease. With help from family and friends, we spent over $800 that day for imaging, fluids, and prescriptions.

Two days later, he still wasn't eating or drinking, and we went back to the vet. We spent another $200 for more fluids, more prescriptions, and a special kind of food. Thankfully, these things worked and he finally began eating and drinking again, returning to his normal self. However, the vet told us that getting his teeth cleaned and having one tooth extracted were 100% crucial to his health, adding that his gum disease may be the cause of his heart murmur. Regardless of that outcome, it will kill him sooner rather than later if we don't address his teeth.

All of this was news to us, as we'd taken him for his routine visit last year, and were not informed of the severity of his dental health at that time - or else we would have gotten it done then.

We have taken on a few extra odd-jobs this month in an attempt to cover the costs of these procedures, and what we're asking for help with is what those extra jobs still will not cover.

If you knew me when I lost Max, you may remember the impact it had on me, and still has to this day. Truly, I have never been the same. Part of that pain was due to the fact that I couldn't help Max more simply because I couldn't afford it. I'd put as much as I could on a credit card and it still just wasn't enough. I've lamented for the last 5 years the fact that I didn't reach out for help. So that is what I'm doing now. I am asking for help, to please not let me lose another beloved pet (our only pet) simply because we couldn't afford to help them.

Everyone says this, but that's because it's true - if all you can give is a few bucks, I promise, it will help. Please help us keep our beloved little kitty his happy, healthy and goofy self. Anything, anything at all will be so so appreciated.

-Bethany and Adam