This is my baby girl Catalina. She is 10 years old and this last year she developed a sarcoma cancer on her thigh that grew to the size of baseball over the course of 6 months. I was told that she would need an amputation to as well as follow on care to stop the growth. Right now it's under the muscle and wrapped around her thigh bone. The sarcoma hasn't moved to her hip yet, which means it's a race against time to perform the surgery and remove the leg.

If it does reach the hip, it could spread to her spine, where her odds of survival drop significantly. Due to it's size, the tumor has ulcerated (opened) and a wound has formed. It bleeds and clear viscous discharge leaks from the wound. It's not life threatening and I take her to the Vet for antibiotics once every 3 weeks to prevent infections, but it causes her great discomfort and I must keep her separated from my dog and in a dry place in my room.

As of today, the doctors are saying that the Amputation will roughly cost 6,700$ with high estimates being 7000$. Follow up care will involve additional CT scans and possible radiation and chemo therapy. Siamese cats are estimated to live 15-20 years, and prior to this diagnosis, she's never had health issues. This was a sudden and out of the blue development that shocked me. At this time, I'm unable to pay for the surgery and time is of the essence.

I'm humbling asking the community for help in saving my baby and helping my keep her in our lives for a bit longer. Any thing helps.

She's helped me get through some of the toughest battles in my life, help me fight this one.

(Back Story)

My sister and I adopted Catalina from the San Diego Point Loma SPCA in 2018. We were grew up without pets and she and I were wanting a new face face around the apartment. Originally I wanted a dog because I'm allergic to Cats, but most of them were towards the end of their lives or required to be dual adoptions, so we made our way over to the cat area. All the Cats had coincidentally been moved out of the lounge area to their kennels for feeding time, so as we were about to leave, I happened to spot a grey/white ball of fur against the glass above my head. I said "What about that one?"

Once I walked into the room, she stood up, meowed, and shoved her dirty, crusty face into mine. She had conjunctivitis and some kennel cough, but I knew she was coming home. The look on my sister's face was priceless too.

After learning that Siamese cats were some of the most vocal breeds of cats, it took a while for her to adjust to her new home. Apparently, she was running through the yards and back alleys of Point Loma, living off the good will and love of the neighbors for some time before someone probably got annoyed with the constant meowing in the night. She was spaded when she arrived at the SPCA, so I imagined she had some babies before and was upset at being an indoor cat.

She spent weeks running for the door, jumping over my balcony and running off every chance she got. She eventually found a way out and disappeared for a day before I got a call from animal control (good thing she was chipped) and had to bail her out of jail.

The best of times were when were living in University Heights and she had a backyard for her lay out in. She'd hop on the neighbors garage rooftop and lounge in the sun. I figured out if I made enough kissing sounds and shook the kibble bag loud enough I'd hear her bell collar running back home every sunset.

She's been a wonderful cat mom to my other foster cats in the past. Always playing with kittens and grooming them, loving my dog Papas since he was puppy and overall being the best girl in the world.

Moving to Chicago was a big step for her, but she got to see the country on a wonderful road trip and even played in the snow on the way here. I feel blessed every time I look at her, and cherish every moment and memory shared with her.