I have a little kitten named Otis who is in need of some serious medical support. How did I get here?

Last week, I came across a local neighborhood post about some kids who found a kitten at the park. He was being kept in a garage for the time being, and he was clearly suffering from some medical issues. I felt compelled to help. Kitten season was here, shelter and rescues were full, and the weather was only getting hotter. I picked him up, took him to the vet, had him treated for fleas and possible worms, and started him on a round of antibiotics and eye ointment for an upper respiratory infection and conjunctivitis (pink eye). We brought him to my in-laws that weekend to celebrate my MIL’s 65th birthday, he met the fam, and he could not have been more charming! On Sunday evening he was shaping up to be a ravenous and playful kitten, and we named him Otis Redding.

Monday morning, his left eye was looking more swollen, and I made an appointment for the next morning. Monday evening, the eye was much worse. I brought him to the ER vet, having been told eye issues can progress quickly. After a few hours, with kitten requests for uppies and more vet examinations, they sent me home with a second ointment. The next morning our primary vet wanted to stay the course, wait and see, and receive daily image updates. Things almost looked like they were turning around again. The swelling was going down, his appetite was steady, and his behavior was frisky and snuggly. On Thursday, his left eye was quite bulgy, and his little sniffles and sneezes became unproductive. On Friday, our vet recommended Otis’s eye be enucleated (removed), and because he is only 7 weeks old, they wanted me to call around to a few surgical specialists to review their openings and quotes. Our primary vet was willing to perform the surgery but said it could be a higher risk for the little guy due to their limitations with pain meds and anesthesia. They also said the soonest they could schedule him was July 7th. It was 4:30pm on a Friday, and I started calling around and leaving voicemails hoping to get a slew of responses on Monday morning. To my surprise on Saturday, the Animal Eye Consultants called me and said they could get Otis in on Monday afternoon for an evaluation, and if determined necessary, he could have the enucleation that same day. My primary vet felt like Otis needed help sooner than later and expressed concern about pressure from the left eye causing sinusitis and possible damage to the nerves in his right eye. At this point Otis has a course of antibiotics, two ointments, warm saline compresses, and steamy shower sessions. On Saturday night, he was struggling to take a breath, and I brought him to the ER again where he was scooped away before I could even sign the agreement. I waited under cold fluorescents for four hours to talk to the vet while Otis hung out in an oxygenated kennel. This vet mentioned possible feline herpes FHV-1, which is common, contagious, and the possible culprit of his continued issues. We have a cat Luna and Dog Andy already. Otis has been staying isolated in our half bath, and we’ve done our best to wash our hands and change any contaminated clothes after visiting with him. I mentioned to the ER vet that Otis had an appointment scheduled for the next day, and our goal was to get him to that post where he’s going to get the whole kitten caboodle of diagnostics (I hope). We got him home at 6am after having received several hours of oxygen, a saline nebulizar treatment, and some gabapentin for pain. At this point both of his eyes are showing irritation and swelling, but he’s still eating all the Churus (like gogurt salmon treats for cats) that he can get. I’m doing my best to keep him comfortable and cozy. He now has a little orange slice safety collar, because the tiniest cone the vet could give me slips right off his head.

I’m writing Otis’s story on the precipice of his ophthalmology appointment. After five vet visits in one week, his bills are stacking up, and if he needs surgery, well, that’s the reason I’m here. I have zero expectations for support. I have made my choices to continue supporting Otis, and he makes it easy through his sweet demeanor and will to fight. If I’ve kept you this far, I hope your heart has been touched as deeply as mine has for Otis. There’s a lot of uncertainty and atrocities these days, and a small kitten is nowhere near the top of the list of needs. The thing is, he’s just a little guy who steals the hearts of anyone who meets him, and if you have the means and spirit, I can at least ask for some help with his continued care. I work at an NFP for Cancer wellness and support, which is fulfilling but not especially lucrative. This is my first GoFundMe, and I’m nervous to ask for support when I know there is so much need out there. But I’m putting myself and Otis out there!

I will happily provide updates on Otis’s well being and share a multitude of cute, orange kitten images and videos! Again, no expectations from anyone. But for those cat and animals lovers with a little extra to give, please help Otis get past these tough moments, so he can have a fulfilling life full of love, treats, and kitty shenanigans.

With warmth and gratitude,

Megan