Please help Save 1-Year-Old Pistachio: Fighting a Curable Rare Oral Cancer called Ameloblastoma/FIOT

https://linktr.ee/SavePistachio for details.

Pistachio is our sweet, curious, brave, and extremely loving 1.5-year-old rescue cat. From the moment we adopted him in May of 2024, he’s been the heart of our little family. Pistachio is always following us around, curling up on our backs while we sleep, and making us laugh with his playful antics, even though they can sometimes be mischievous. He is extremely social and affectionate and loves to be around people, familiar or new.

In July 2025, we discovered a strange growth inside Pistachio’s mouth. Our vet urged us to see a veterinary dental surgeon right away. On July 18th, he underwent surgery (right maxillectomy) to remove the mass, which was expected to be an odontogenic cyst.

The biopsy from PennVet brought heartbreaking news: Pistachio has a rare and locally aggressive tumor called an ameloblastoma, and neoplastic cells were found at the surgical margins. This means it wasn’t fully removed and will grow back without further treatment.

Another surgery would deform Pistachio’s face and negatively impact his quality of life, so our vet recommended radiation therapy. We consulted with a veterinary radiology oncologist on Monday, 8/11, and our next steps are a CT scan and radiation. The oncologist was very optimistic about Pistachio’s situation. The combination of incomplete surgical excision and curative fractionated radiation around the remaining tissues has a great prognosis. Without radiation treatment, the tumor will return.

So far, we’ve spent over $9,000 on specialist visits, emergency consultations, tumor removal surgery, anesthesia, biopsies, and follow-ups.

Future treatment in order to cure Pistachio includes advanced imaging and fractionated radiation therapy, which is expected to cost an additional $13,200-16,200. We unfortunately can’t do this on our own, and would deeply appreciate any help that we can get to save Pistachio’s life.

Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly to Pistachio’s future treatment. Even if you can’t donate, sharing his story helps us reach others who may be able to help.

Pistachio is just a baby, with so much life to live ahead of him if he receives treatment. He is too young and sweet to go. We are doing everything possible to give him the healthy and happy future that he deserves.

Thank you so much.