Please Help to Give Leo a Fighting Chance!

Hello, everyone. My name is Mike and I live in Northeast Ohio. I'm a cook at a local restaurant and in my spare time I rescue cats and kittens. Over the past decade, I've saved over 350 kittens from the streets and helped to TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) dozens of feral cats in my area.

My 10-year-old cat, Leo, has been dealing with asthma for some time now. Initially, my veterinarian told me that he didn't think it was asthma-related, despite me showing him videos of Leo wheezing and struggling to breathe. A few weeks ago I noticed some dramatic changes in his behavior and realized that he had lost some weight. I took him to an emergency veterinarian after I got off work and they confirmed that he has severe asthma. They ran a series of tests, and concluded that he has a mucus plug in his right lung, which has caused it to partially collapse. They suggested more tests, as well as a bronchoscopy and lavage, in hopes of loosening and potentially removing the mucus plug. When they told me how much it would cost, I had no choice but to decline and see if the other medications might be effective enough to help him recover.

Leo was prescribed steroids (Prednisolone) and two different inhalers (Fluticasone and Albuterol), which I have administered as instructed. I took him to my regular veterinarian a few days later and got him a check-up and some subcutaneous fluids. He seemed a bit better initially, but ended up going back downhill because the mucus plug is still present.

I ended up taking Leo back to the emergency vet. They ran another series of tests, including several more X-rays and bloodwork. He was on oxygen for a while, but they said that as soon as they took him off of it his oxygen levels dropped very quickly.

The veterinarian said that his condition would be manageable if it weren't for the mucus plug. He's having a hard time breathing and the only hope is a bronchoscopy and lavage to remove the plug. His hindquarters are so skinny and I can feel his spine and ribs and hips jutting out when I pet him.

I need to figure out a way to get him the care that he truly needs. Between the two emergency vet visits, my regular vet bills, two different asthma medicines and a new HEPA vacuum, I've spent over $4,000 in the past few weeks.

I'm so worried about him and it just breaks my heart seeing him isolating himself so much. He's been hiding under his cat tree or laying on the floor and recently started hiding under the couch. If I don't do something soon, I'll have no choice but to help him cross the rainbow bridge when it's clear that there's nothing left that I can do.

There is a glimmer of hope for him still, but I simply cannot afford to give my Leo the treatments he needs without asking for help. So here I am, hoping some kind-hearted souls are willing to help give Leo a fighting chance. If there's anything that any of you can contribute, Leo and I truly appreciate it. Thank you so much.