Hi, my name is Leigh, and I have a 7-year-old cat named Albert who means the world to me. Bertie is a loving and sweet boy. Since he was a kitten, he has brought so much joy into my life with his affection and quirky habits, like sucking on a special shirt to put himself to sleep, recently growing a white mustache, and patiently watching and waiting for me whenever I'm engaged in a task that doesn't involve him.

A few days ago he vomited nonstop until his back legs gave out. I rushed him to the emergency vet, and after many tests and a lot of money, we still didn’t have answers.

After bringing him home and his symptoms worsening, I took him back to the vet. They found a partial blockage in his small intestine and stomach and fluid buildup. The vet advised that surgery was necessary to remove the blockage, which could be a hairball or foreign object.

NYC emergency vet costs are astronomical and the cost for the bloodwork, surgery, tests, and aftercare, is $8,752 (receipts below).

As someone who works in public education, I simply don’t have the funds to cover these expenses. I am moving forward with the surgery and will put the costs on my credit card, but this will create a significant financial burden that will take years to pay off.

Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Your generosity will help ensure that Bertie gets the care he needs to recover and continue bringing joy to my life. I've attached the itemized invoice for reference.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.