Save Artoo Deetoo!

I decided not to humanely euthanize my cat, Artoo Deetoo, despite mounting vet costs for life-saving treatment and surgery. He just means too much to me, and I want to give him the long, healthy life he deserves.

I rescued Artoo from Athens, GA animal control in September of 2023. I immediately fell in love with him and he became so important to me. As all pet owners know, Artoo gives me joy and unconditional love that no human (though wonderful) can provide. He is sweet, smart, and spunky, and runs to sit on my lap every day when I get home from work and purrs loudly. I can't lose him, and I need help to pay for the care he needs to get to a point where he can live happily again and run back into my lap.

The vets have called his situation "a combination of worse case scenarios."

Artoo has been happy and healthy for as long as I have had him. But on Monday May 13, after maintenance work was being done in my apartment all day, he expressed painful vocalizations and became lethargic and stopped eating and going to the litter box. I took him to the vet, and they immediately sent me to the UGA animal hospital, where I learned that he had developed a stress-induced urinary blockage. This would require 48 hours of hospitalization and a bill of $2,500-3,500. This seemed daunting but manageable at the time, but I had no idea that Artoo's troubles (and my expenses) were far from over.

After a day in the hospital, Artoo Deetoo's urinary obstruction was resolved but he had developed a UTI. This complication led to more and more complications, which led to additional time in the hospital and a growing bill. I knew it would all be worth it to get my sweet boy back to normal.

I was thrilled when the doctors said I could bring Artoo home after his extended stay on Saturday, May 18. Despite carefully applying his multiple medications, the happiness faded quickly. Artoo declined and his bladder re-blocked, and I had to take him back to the ER at 2am on Sunday.

The vets worked hard to unblock him and get his liver and kidney levels back to normal. He recovered and was discharged again on Monday afternoon, with the warning that he could re-block again and the hope that he would not. I accepted the additional costs, bringing my total bill up to about $5,000.

He seemed well upon coming home, and I meticulously monitored his attitude and behavior and gave him his medicines. But on Monday afternoon, he began to decline. He stopped eating and using the litter box and became lethargic. I had many calls with the vet and other experts, and they assured me that it was not yet an emergency. Still, that was one of the most anxiety-ridden days I have every experienced.

On Tuesday he became more lethargic and just...sad. I couldn't help but cry looking at his medically sedated expression, dearly missing just 10 days ago when he would purr, run, hunt his toys, and jump in my lap.

Upon further discussion with the vet, they recommended I bring him in Wednesday morning (May 22). After over a week of being worried sick about my cat, many crying sessions, and hours of conversation with the vet, I was exhausted. Then I was informed that the worst had come: Artoo's bladder has ruptured and he needed very serious care and at least one (probably two) surgeries.

I was told that I had done nothing wrong, and that humane euthanasia was an option if the costs were unmanageable to me. Though I couldn't imagine paying the now up to $10,000 it would take to get Artoo on the other side of this issue, it was even harder to imagine losing him forever. The vets assured me that even after this traumatic experience, he could live a long, happy, and healthy life without pain. With their support and encouragement, I decided to move forward with the care plan.

I am not one to ask for help often, but I truly do need assistance with this financial burden. I decided to move forward with Artoo's treatment with the hope that I could get support from family and friends. I will pay absolutely as much as I can, but with the $5,000 I have already paid plus the looming estimate of up to $10,000, I am spread thin. I have requested financial assistance from the hospital, but they made it clear I could not count on receiving it.

I'd like to thank anyone who is able to contribute to helping save Artoo, even if just in words of encouragement. I'd like to thank the wonderful vets, students, and staff at the UGA animal hospital, who have taken the utmost effort to take great care of my little guy and inform and advise me with kindness and clarity. I'd like to thank my boss for being so understanding with my needing to leave work for vet emergencies. I'd like to thank my family for their support and understanding, and my boyfriend for keeping me sane and gracefully accepting the brunt of my roller coaster of emotions, as well as for being Artoo Deetoo's second-favorite human.

Rest assured that once he is past this, I will aggressively pursue the best conditions for Artoo to be healthy and comfortable for the rest of his long life. I am well educated on how to keep his stress levels low and help him navigate change so that he can be as happy as he makes me.

Much love,

Izy