UPDATE: Pp underwent a leg amputation Aug. 28. His surgery was successful and he is safe at home for his recovery process. The vets said amputation would be the best way to prevent the cancer around his leg tumour from spreading more. He is now a very cute and sweet tripod, and his spirits are high. The surgery was the biggest cost so far, so any help with those expenses as well as covering his recovery medication is much appreciated.

Pp (pronounced "Pee-Pee") has recently been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour. He went in to the vet for his annual vaccines July 24, 2025 and by July 28 (4 days later), a tumour had very quickly grown to about the size of a golf ball on his left hind leg. When he returned to the vet that week, the lump was misdiagnosed as a large cyst and was thus scheduled and put into surgery to remove it (see photo 2 – he currently has stitches from this surgery and has to wear a cone).

Following this surgery on August 13, the vet conducted a biopsy on the mass that was removed from Pp's leg and found that it was actually cancerous. So, Pp was re-diagnosed with Feline Injection Site Sarcoma (FISS), also known as vaccine-associated sarcoma. FISS is a rare cancerous tumor that can develop at the site of an injection in cats, generally following vaccinations.

So far, the initial surgery, medications, and testing to remove what was believed to be a non-cancerous cyst have cost $2250. But now that Pp's mass has tested positive for cancer, it is likely he will require more treatments, testing, medications, and/or surgery. Furthermore, FISS is generally quite aggressive and fast-spreading (hence the tumour having grown to the size of a golf ball within less than 4 days). Moreover, according to the biopsy, the mass that was removed did not have clean margins and it is therefore likely that cancer cells have already spread across his leg and to other parts of his body.

So far, the vets have suggested a deep tissue surgery from a specialist surgeon to remove wider margins around where the cancerous cells were/are. Pp will also undergo a CT scan or an MRI to determine if the cancer has spread to his lungs, lymph nodes, or any surrounding tissues. If it has spread, he may need radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The cost of these treatments and potential surgeries are estimated to cost several thousands of dollars, perhaps even tens of thousands. So, we are asking for your help.

About Pp: Pp is an incredibly affectionate, silly, and charming cat. He is beloved by his family, friends, neighbours, and especially, by his primary human and caregiver, Violet. When he is not cuddling Violet under the blankets, he spends his time napping, roaming the house, visiting his housemates Bean, Wilbur, Ken, Madddy, and Kieran, and adventuring outdoors. In fact, in the last two years of living in Harbord Village, Pp has grown quite the fanbase – specifically the neighbourhood community on Major Street and surrounding areas. He loves to spend time outdoors and receive attention and pats from passersby – kids, seniors, and adults alike. Pp just turned 6 years old – thus, he could still have many years of life left as our favourite neighbourhood cat if we can return him to good health.

If Pp has touched your heart in any way, please consider donating to fund his recovery. His primary caregiver and her housemates are doing everything they can in their power to ensure he is cared for and to secure finances to cover these costs, but the large volume of tests, potential medications, and specialized surgeries for his rare condition will add/are already adding up. We want him to continue spreading his infectious joy and affection in our home and community, and to ensure a full life for him.

If it is not within your means to donate, please consider sharing this link with others, and educating yourselves and loved ones with cats about Feline Injection Site Sarcoma (FISS). Although it is rare, there is always a risk of cats developing this kind of cancer when receiving their essential/ routine vaccinations. Violet and her immediate circle did not know about this condition and were devastated to find out that Pp had developed cancer so quickly as a result of routine pet care.

Thank you so much for reading Pp's story and for sharing. We will keep you updated on how he is doing. <3