Squidge’s surgery

Hi, I’m Lou and I’m 18, this is my cat Squidge and he’s 10. I’ve had him since I was 7 and for as long as I can remember he’s been next to me, through every heartbreak, happy moment, every time I’ve felt like I’ve wanted to give up, he’s been there.

He’s my bestfriend and I know that one day I will have to say goodbye to him at some point but I don’t want that to be today if I can help it.

Me and my mom used to joke that he’s the type of cat to grow old and get something like diabetes, now it doesn’t feel like such a joke - he’s lost a huge and abnormal amount of weight in the past 2/3 weeks and is now underweight, all his external exams such as bloods have shown no signs of illness and come back normal so the vets have decided to move forward and do exploratory surgery. Though I’m glad they’re choosing to do this as it could maybe explain what’s going on with him, I’m terrified of just that and more. I’m scared of what they may find and what that means for us, I’m scared he won’t even make it through the surgery and lastly I’m scared of how this is going to impact us - not only mentally but financially.

It’s just me and my mom. I’m 18 and currently sitting my Alevel exams to determine whether I can go to university in September or not and my mom works but it’s just enough for us to have food on our plates and the lights on. Moving out in a few months costs enough, university alone costs enough and with this on top I’m not sure what I’m meant to do. Not only is this surgery going to cost us a huge amount but the external tests such as bloods and stuff prior also costs and if they can find the issue with him then the treatment, if there is any, will cost us on top of all that. I never want to ask for money, it’s one of the things I hate most and I do anything to avoid it but I’m stuck here, I want to help in some way and I do have a job but with exams it’s too much as well as my job not giving me shifts for the past 7 months meaning I’m being left unpaid, I’m trying to search for jobs but I just want to get through my exams first. I want to go to university and I want my cat here with me.

Squidge has seen me grow up, seen me go from primary school to high school and to now sixth form, I want him to be here when I take this final step in my education and possibly the scariest thing I can think of - I’ll be moving 5 hours away and alone, I don’t want to leave my mom alone without both her babies.

If people can help in any way I’d appreciate it - I don’t know what I’m doing here but I’m trying, thank you and I’m sorry I’ve had to make something like a gofundme for my cat.