Support the kitties in care of The Barbuti Kitten Academy.

This year, I’m making a rare birthday request.

As many of you know, I lost my job in October. While the severance helped for a time, those funds are nearly gone, and I haven’t yet secured new employment at the level I previously held. This has forced me to make some difficult changes—not only in my personal life, but also in how I support the rescue cats and kittens in my care.

In the past few months, I’ve fostered a sweet mama cat and her kittens, three of whom needed urgent medical care that I personally covered the cost for. I also paid for the cremation of two neighborhood cats hit by cars and recently discovered several unsterilized cats in the area who now need TNR (trap-neuter-return). Between emergency vet visits, cremation, and upcoming TNR costs, I’ve spent over $1,500 out of pocket.

I’ve created a GoFundMe to help recoup the funds I’ve spent on the rescue animals in my care—the ones I’ve personally stepped in to help. I’m not a 501(c)(3), so donations to me aren’t tax-deductible, though I hope to change that in the future by securing nonprofit status. If you’d prefer a tax-deductible option, please consider donating to True Friends Animal Welfare Center, a rescue I proudly support.

Whether you donate, share this post, or simply follow the stories of the animals I care for—thank you. So many of you have adopted my fosters, offered kind words, or supported me from afar. Your encouragement keeps me going and truly makes a difference.