Fig de la Cruz is a tiny but mighty 5-6 year old (estimate) rare orange female semi-feral cat who has been rescued a few times. The first rescue was when she was Trapped (Spayed) and Released back to her Bronx, New York feral cat colony a couple of years ago. The second rescue was April 3, 2020 when the amazing rescue organization, Little Wanderers caught Fig after she had been suffering for weeks with a badly de-gloved tail. What Fig suffered through was unimaginable. After having an emergency tail amputation on April 4, 2020, Fig was picked up by Brooklyn resident Cathy de la Cruz from a Manhattan animal hospital during the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak in New York City. Cathy was terrified of leaving her apartment to go into the city, but this cat needed someone to nurse her back to health so off Cathy went. 

Cathy bought a crate, special food dishes since Fig would have an e-collar for three and a half weeks, and very nutritious cat food. Cathy also bought Feliway calming diffusers to make Fig comfortable and played special “music for cats” to calm Fig down at night since semi-feral, Fig was restless and confused in her e-collared and crated confinement. Cathy read books to Fig when Fig meowed at night in an effort to get her used to human company, and fell in pet-love with Fig, officially adopting her 24 hours after Fig had her e-collar removed and came out of the crate for good. It was love at first sight when Cathy woke up the next morning to see Fig laying on the couch curled up on Cathy’s sweater. 

Fig has been Cathy’s closest companion during the pandemic of 2020 in New York, which is why it is all the more heartbreaking that Fig has a mystery illness causing her seizure-like spasms several times a day. Fig’s appetite waxed and waned until finally Fig wouldn’t eat for days causing Cathy to rush Fig to a pet emergency room where it was discovered that Fig also had a very high fever and was understandably suffering from severe dehydration. While in the hospital and on an appetite stimulant, Fig tried to eat, only to have the seizure-like spasm episode return causing her to give up on trying to eat again. Fig is getting the best care that maxing out Cathy’s credit cards can buy, but soon Cathy won’t be able to afford anymore treatments for Fig. 

I know this is a tough time for a lot of people, so please only give if you can. I know Fig and Cathy will appreciate anything so please don’t think any amount is too small. Fig’s vet bill is estimated to be at almost $8,000 and that doesn’t include the $90 in car services Cathy has had to take to and from the animal hospital, the day she had to take off from work to take Fig to the hospital and wait around or any other expenses that might still pop up. Mostly Cathy just wants to pay off the $8,000 vet bill before the interest rates raise it even higher. 

Cathy and Fig would be forever grateful for your help if you are able to give. I will make sure to get regular updates on Fig’s health to let everyone know how Fig is doing and what this mystery illness is. And just an FYI, Cathy is getting a second opinion from an out of state veterinarian friend who is reviewing all records, x-rays, ultrasounds, tests, etc. pro bono because this friend loves Cathy and Fig the way Cathy loves Fig and the way Fig loves Cathy. Let's pay those vet bills and get Fig well and back home ASAP. 

No matter what, please send healing energy, prayers, thoughts, vibes and so forth to Fig de la Cruz.