Hi, my name is Mimi, and I’m only 3 years old. I'm a sweet and goofy baby who loves playing with my toys and, most of all, spending time with my sister, Mango; we’re inseparable. But a few weeks ago, I stopped feeling like my silly self. I was tired all the time, barely drinking water, and too weak to play. My family knew something was wrong and rushed me to the vet.

At first, the vet heard a heart murmur but thought my symptoms might be stress from a new kitten in the home. They gave me fluids because I was dehydrated and sent me home. None of us knew that the murmur was actually a sign of something much more serious.

After the vet visit, I suddenly couldn’t breathe well. I was coughing, dry-gagging, and struggling for air. My family panicked and took me to the Emergency Room. The doctors took X-rays that showed fluid in my lungs and chest; I was going into heart failure. After removing the fluid, the doctors diagnosed me with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a serious heart disease.

They immediately started me on heart medication, but no one knew I also had underlying kidney disease. The medicine that helped my heart began putting too much strain on my kidneys, pushing them toward failure too. My family had to rush me back to the ER so the vets could stabilize me again.

Right now, the doctors are trying their best to balance my treatment. If I get too many fluids, I could go back into heart failure. If I don’t get enough, my kidney levels rise. It’s a delicate, ongoing fight but it’s very expensive.

I don’t know how much time I have, but I want to keep fighting. I want more days with my family and my sister, Mango. I want to help my family as much as pawsible, but my tiny paws can only do so much.

If you’re able to donate or share my story, it would mean the world to us. Your support would be truly meowtastic, and it would help my family continue giving me the care I need.

Thank you for reading my story and for caring about a little cat like me