Miss Bettie is the sister to Paige and loved being a store cat at Bettie's Pages a queer owned indie bookstore in Lowell, MI.

She transitioned to a "work from home" store cat in 2024 due to chronic health problems related to her toxoplasmosis infection complications, including blindness.

Bettie has missed the love and attention from her bookstore family almost as much as we've missed having her at the store. But she has generally been thriving as a pampered princess.

2026 however isn't starting off so great. Our sweet little trash panda cat decided to eat some foam floor tiles and bit off more than she could chew.

Literally.

1 late night, white knuckled, drive to the emergency vet in Traverse City later and she was diagnosed with an obstruction.

X-rays showed 2 pieces of foam that she hasn't been able to pass naturally. One in her stomach and one in her intestines.

The one in the stomach was causing fluid to back up which was our biggest concern. After a night of IV fluids and monitoring the updated X-rays showed no movement and the fluid/gas in her stomach was causing distension that was affecting her breathing.

The decision was made to move ahead with surgery and that's where you're help comes in.

As you probably know, quality vet care costs money. And as a single cat mom running a bookstore this added expense is terrifying.

The estimate for care was $1600 if she didn't need surgery and up to $4200 of surgery was needed. I put down a $2000 deposit and because surgery was needed I know we will end up at the higher end of the projections.

If you were lucky enough to get to know Bettie at the store you know she is the sweetest cat who is quirky as hell.

- She never learned how to meow because her sister Paige did ALL the talking.

- She's fallen madly in love with my partner and would steal him from me in a heartbeat.

- Because of her blindness and chronic health issues that end up with lots of tummy troubles Bettie isn't able to manage grooming properly which means lots of baths and bad haircuts from her mom! It always makes her feel better even if she hates every second of it!

- Even blind as a bat she never misses a meal and can navigate the house like a champ when she hears her food dish timer go off!

Please consider donating if able to help defray these costs and share her story. I am so incredibly grateful for any help you have to give and please send all the healing energy her way so our girl can get home and back to her job managing her mom!