Support Wyatt's Life-Saving Surgery

My name is Tessa and I am a Board Member and the Feral Cat Coordinator for Hyde Park Cats, an all-volunteer cat rescue on Chicago’s South Side. I have been caring for Wyatt since he joined my outdoor colony in 2023. With his beautiful coat and gentle demeanor, Wyatt charmed not only me but the whole neighborhood and soon had many feeders and admirers. In 2024 I trapped and neutered him, but he was too stressed inside so he had to be released back to the colony. Six months later, Wyatt was injured and sought one of his feeders for help. She took him inside and since he has been with her, Wyatt has learned to trust humans (and dogs!). I was thrilled to learn that Wyatt was finally ready to be an indoor kitty.

But x-rays have shown the nature of his injury: a herniated diaphragm. Although we don’t know how it happened (being hit by a car is most likely), Wyatt’s diaphragm has ruptured, and the organs from his abdominal cavity have traveled into his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. Wyatt is stable at the moment, but this condition could turn life-threatening. Wyatt needs surgery.

The surgery to repair a herniated diaphragm has a high success rate, but it is also expensive. The estimated cost is $8,000-$9,000, and we are asking for your help to fund it.

Although Wyatt hasn’t found his forever family, (yet!) Wyatt is a part of the Hyde Park Cats family: myself and other volunteers have been caring for him in one way or another for two years. After his injury, he trusted his feeder enough to seek help and come inside. We are committed to helping Wyatt live a long and healthy indoor life.

While we are caring for Wyatt, other cats - and other vet bills - keep coming. This month we have had two emergency vet visits and we continue to spay, neuter, and vaccinate multiple cats each week. Just yesterday we were contacted about a cat with a broken paw, and tomorrow may bring another. If we want to continue to be a resource for the cats in our community, and the humans that love them, we need to raise money for Wyatt’s surgery in addition to our ongoing medical needs.

You can donate to Wyatt’s surgery here, visit our website at hydeparkcats.org to donate via PayPal or Venmo, or email [email redacted] to donate by cash or check. Every dollar helps! Thank you from Wyatt and Hyde Park Cats.