Hi everyone,

My name is Bryanna and I am the owner of Gus, the sweetest 4 year old cat. Gus was found on a farm at 5-6 weeks old and he immediately became my best friend. In his short little life, Gus has faced some wildly bizarre and uncomfortable medical emergencies and conditions. Thankfully I registered him for pet insurance when he was 8 weeks old and eligible for a policy. Insurance has saved me multiple thousands of dollars each year. However, the one thing insurance does not cover is eye/ear conditions because he had an eye and ear infection when he was a kitten and it is now considered pre-existing. I have tried to challenge this but insurance will not budge.

This summer, Gus randomly started experiencing eye issues. At first it was a bit of discharge and excessive blinking and over time developed into a very uncomfortable unknown condition. He has seen 3 different veterinarians for opinions and has been on 6 different medications. He is not responding to meds, and now may need to see a specialist. His days consist of excessive sleeping which I assume is related to the discomfort he feels when his eyes are open. He cannot open his eyes fully, he blinks excessively, and it breaks my heart to see him struggling. I worry so much that this will eventually impact his vision.

Gus has been screened for some eye conditions that have all come back “normal” or have not provided answers. The next step is to have him tested for glaucoma and a referral to a specialist which could be in Ottawa or Toronto depending on what his regular veterinarian says. Gus is supported by a fantastic vet that is doing her absolute best for him. His case is not straight forward and it has been increasingly difficult to pinpoint a diagnosis or reason for his condition.

This is where I need help. I have ALWAYS put Gus and his needs before my own and have spent a lot of money out of pocket on his eyes over the past several weeks. Financially, and without the support of insurance, I am hitting my limit with what I can afford for him and this terrifies me. I have emergency funds specifically for my pets and I have burned through this faster than I can replenish it. I desperately need to figure out what is going on with Gus and to make him comfortable. He is my whole world and I feel incredibly guilty that even as a responsible pet owner, I am hitting my financial limit.

I’m reaching out to my friends, family, and community for help. Whether it be a share or a small donation to help us through this, I will be forever grateful. The funds will be used for his ongoing rechecks, specialist visits, and medications he requires. Any extra funds will be donated to a local cat rescue that I foster for.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.