Update: Thanks to so many generous private donations outside of GoFundMe, we’ve now reached $2,000! I’m so grateful for the incredible support — I've amended the fundraising goal to just cover the first treatment as her condition continues to decline each day, even with medication. We’re in the final stretch with just $1,100 to go.

I’m trying to book her in for treatment at the beginning of May. Your help is making all the difference as we fight to give her the care she needs. ❤️

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out for help for my sweet cat, Lilly. I rescued her in 2021 when she was about five years old after she spent years as a stray living in a friend’s yard. When I first met her, she was sleeping in a garden of lilies, curled into a tiny ball, her luscious fur blending into the earth so well that it took us 20 minutes to find her.

In her first five years, Lilly had three litters of kittens and was the best mama to them. Her babies were adopted into loving homes, but Lilly was left behind. When I brought her home, she was nervous and unsure of humans. It took time, patience, and a lot of love but eventually, she became the affectionate cuddle bug she is today.

Lilly is happiest when curled up in a warm lap, making biscuits on anything soft within reach, and soaking up all the attention she can get. She spends her days watching birds from the window, grooming her tortie sister Ginny, and purring contentedly just from being near her favourite humans.

Since moving to a cabin in the woods, Lilly has truly thrived—lounging in sunbeams, watching wildlife, and embracing the peaceful life she was always meant to have.

But now, she’s facing a serious health challenge, and I need help to give her the future she deserves.

Her Diagnosis & Path to Recovery

Last week, I found Lilly weak and unable to walk. After rushing her to the emergency vet, I learned she has a tumor on her thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism. This condition can lead to serious complications if left untreated, and while she’s currently on medication, the tumor could continue to grow or even turn malignant over time. Without treatment, most hyperthyroid cats live to be about 12 or 13 years old. Lilly is currently 9. The thought of losing her in just a few years is devastating—I thought we had another decade together.

Thankfully, there’s a solution. A specialized radioactive iodine treatment can target and eradicate the hyperactive cells, curing her hyperthyroidism and allowing her to live a full, healthy life—without the need for daily medication.

How You Can Help

The estimated cost of Lilly’s care—including last week’s emergency vet visit, her initial treatment consultation, the radiocative iodine treatment, follow-up tests, and a possible second treatment—is $6,000.

I’m aiming to get Lilly’s surgery done before summer to stop the tumor from growing any further. Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference, and sharing this fundraiser helps more than you know.

If you donate and want updates on Lilly’s recovery, please let me know in your donation comment —I’d love to share her progress with you! Currently trying to figure out a way to do that without publicly posting my email... once I find a way, I'll communicate that somehow in this post.

Any unused funds will be donated to Furry Tales Rescue (Ottawa, Ontario) to help other cats find their forever homes too. If a donation is made with leftover funds, I’ll update this post detailing the final donation amount and when it was made.

Thank you for reading Lilly’s story. She’s come so far, and I want to give her the chance to enjoy many more years of happiness and love.

With immense gratitude,

Nancy, Lilly, and her chonky sister Ginny