I found him in the woods — a tiny ginger kitten, alone, crying with everything he had. He was born paralyzed in his back legs, and too small for any wheelchair to fit him. For months he dragged himself across the floor until the friction tore open sores on his skin. I handmade diapers for him — padded with foam just to protect him from the ground.

Every vet I spoke to suggested putting him to sleep. Too much work, they said. Nobody will want him. It is hard to find someone willing to take on that responsibility. And they weren't lying — it is a lot of work. I drain his bladder manually at least three times a day. I cook his meals from scratch every single day because he has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and reacts badly to most commercial food. I manage his wheelchair time carefully to protect his skin. I have built ramps throughout the house so he can reach the windows like my other cats. His favorite spot is the second-floor terrace, where he spends hours watching the neighbors like it's his personal show.

It is a lot of work. They were not lying about that. But he is family. He fought so hard to be here, and I want to do everything in my power to give him the chance to live longer, free of pain, and happy. You don't measure the work you do for family. So I kept him. And I would choose him again, every single day, without hesitation.

Right now, Leon is facing two serious medical challenges. He has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which requires careful daily management and a strict diet. He also has cryptorchidism — his testicles never descended and remain inside his body, which carries a real risk of cancer if left untreated. He needs surgery, but his platelet count is dangerously low. Before we can even consider putting him under anesthesia, we need to run several blood tests to understand what is causing it and how to stabilize him safely.

My partner and I rescue cats and dogs — we take them in, nurse them back to health, and find them forever homes, funded entirely out of our own pockets. Leon is the heart of why I do this. One day I want to build a real shelter where no animal gets turned away. Any amount raised beyond Leon's goal goes directly toward that mission — rescuing, healing, and rehoming animals who have nowhere else to go.

You are not just helping one cat. You are helping build something bigger.