help miss kiwi beat cancer

On a cold December afternoon, almost exactly ten years ago, my friend Casey and I walked into PAWS Chicago so that I could get my first cat. I was living in an apartment by myself for the first time and feeling lonely, plus struggling with my mental health, so I was ready to follow Casey's lead—I even wanted a young male cat, black, that I'd give a food name. We'd stopped by Petco before heading over and I was overprepared, as I often am... and then this young lady showed up.

She jumped down from the top of a cat tower and into my lap, meowing loudly—and looked at me like I'd hung the moon. It was love at first sight for me too and, without a second thought, I abandoned my cat wishlist... I didn't care that she was a female, or a tabby, or that she was "the runt of the litter." She was meant to go home with me.

In the decade since, The Artist Formerly Known as Liza—now known as Miss Kiwi—and I have been through a hell of a lot. Together, we've:

During some of the darkest times of my life, Kiwi has been the reason I got out of bed and tried to keep it together for another day—because she needed me, so I needed to keep trying. She has saved my life in more ways than I can count... and now I need your help to pay her back and save hers.

After having the mass in her left paw examined, we have determined that it's a sarcoma—and that her best bet for a full recovery is to amputate the whole leg, as it's too close to the paw to be excised without affecting mobility anyway. The rest of her bloodwork and x-rays all look good, so she's got a good prognosis even though she's a senior kitty with arthritis... but we know that will only remain true if we act swiftly. That's where you come in!

Every dollar you give will go to help my little old lady beat cancer! The surgery itself should be straightforward, and I've been given a ballpark of $5-8k depending on how it goes once she's in the OR. The additional cushion is there in case she needs an extended hospital stay, more meds than expected, and/or mobility device(s) after the amputation if she does not adjust to tripod life as we hope she will. (If after all that, there is any surplus funding, I will coordinate to donate it to other pets in need—either a local no-kill shelter or someone else trying to afford medical treatment for their pet at our hospital.)

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!