V's GoodBoy Surgery & Recovery Fund

V the cat is 5 years old. He is an expert bug catcher, deft communicator, and vigilant protector of the household (and his mommy). He is named after one of my favorite characters from the video game Devil May Cry 5. The character V represents half of the antagonist's humanity- honestly, that part was unintentional when I named him, but it turned out to be more on-the-nose than I would ever have thought.

He recently had to undergo a lifesaving procedure followed by a lengthy recovery process. It was a major surgery to remove a number of bladder stones. If he did not get them removed, he would have suffered greatly before dying an untimely death.

I appreciate taking the time to read our story. He has made a near-full recovery, but my financial credit has not. Any amount you consider contributing is tremendously helpful. It goes directly towards offsetting the burden of the cost of V's surgery and subsequent veterinary care.

Here's more detail into what we experienced:

In early September, I noticed he was meowing more than usual and going in and out of the litterbox. I couldn't figure out why until I noticed blood in his urine. I immediately rushed him to my local vet who saw him right away because male cats in particular are more at risk of urinary complications. They listed out possible causes at this stage: it was most likely either a UTI or bladder stones. I opted to give him an antibiotic shot since they couldn't feel much wrong in his abdomen, but his bladder was small, which is a good sign.

Unfortunately the problem only worsened, and four days after the shot he was passing even more blood in his urine. At that point I decided to rush him to the hospital in the middle of the night. There they sedated him and ran tests and scans of his abdomen. I was aware of the costs of this analysis- almost $3k including catheterization so he could urinate temporarily since he was almost completely blocked.

After an overnight stay, the ultrasound and x-rays revealed multiple stones in his bladder that he would not have been able to pass, nor would a prescription diet food have been able to eliminate in time. In felines, specifically tomcats, urinary blockages can cause toxins to build up in the bladder and lead to a painful death in as little as 24 hours. Any decision I would make from there would be costly, but I had to act fast.

A cystotomy- a surgical removal of the bladder stones- was recommended to keep the condition from becoming fatal. The stones would be tested to see which type they were (simply put, there are two types: environmental or hereditary). His kidneys were also checked to make sure they were clear of stones and any signs of kidney disease, which he fortunately did not appear to have.

He came home with a bevvy of prescription antibiotics and painkillers that he would have to be given several times per day. He wore his cone of shame well (pictured below),

and never went outside of his litterbox (not pictured).

After a few days, I noticed that he was passing urine, but he wasn’t pooping. A call to the hospital surgeon reassured me that it was not uncommon for this to happen in cats post-surgery. However, after nearly 5 days, his belly was bloated and he was sitting in his litter after unsuccessfully attempting to pass- a sign that something is wrong.

His belly was so bloated!

I took him back to the hospital to be seen for another emergency visit, where he was given an enema. Fortunately it worked. I was thrilled to have him home with an empty belly, even if it meant I had to cover my entire room and floor with peepee pads and paper towels. He was going on and off but nothing consistent. After another 4 days of no poops, I took him to a specialty clinic over 2 hours away. He was given more medicine and we changed his course of prescriptions. Cats that go too long without ‘going’ can develop a condition called megacolon, where the nerves just don’t work to push food down the digestive tract, requiring another surgery if this occurs. He has not yet been diagnosed with the condition, so I want to work to prevent that from developing.

As of this writing, he has been going more consistently. His primary condition of stones has resolved exceptionally well, and his secondary condition of constipation is being managed with laxatives. He’s drinking from a filtered fountain with water that is specially formulated for cats that also works to prevent the formation of crystals and stones, and he has a special wet food called Purina Pro HydraCare to boost his water intake, so he’s moist, unbothered, and in his lane.

Here is his running tally of expenses:

1. 9/07 $250.00 - Vet Exam, Antibiotic Shot

2. 9/11 $7702.02 - Hospitalization, Blood test, Sedation Meds, X-Ray, Ultrasound, Cystotomy, Antibiotic & Pain Med Rxs

3. 9/22 $485.42 - Hospitalization, Sedation Meds, IV Fluids, Enema, Laxative Rx

4. 9/25 $480.25 - Vet Specialist Exam, X-Ray, Urinalysis, Laxative Rx

5. 9/27 $102.00 - Gut Motility Rx (Special Order from Pharmacy)

Grand Total: $9019.69

Pet Store Supply Runs (NOT INCLUDED IN FUNDRAISER TOTAL): $325

Thank you again for hearing our story. I created this page because if there was ever a time to ask for help, it would be now. I’ve dedicated an entire month to help ensure the best chances of my cat’s recovery.

What happens next? Prevention and monitoring of his condition. Cats with struvite bladder stones once are more prone to it happening again. It’s important to catch them early as there are special foods that can help dissolve the stones if they ever start to form again. I’ve put him on foods that have high fiber and even higher protein that aid with digestion and create an unfavorable environment for urinary crystals to reappear. He is on only the best (and tastiest) wet food- his favorite flavor ever is tuna.

V must return to the vet in a month for another urinalysis. His post-op urinalysis showed no crystals or any sign of infection. Since cats diagnosed with struvite stones are more prone to suffer recurrences, we need to make sure he continues to show no signs of it in the future.

V has made tremendous progress in his recovery. Anyone who knows V knows that he is as passionate and just about as strong-willed as I am. I hope you can help join me in helping his recovery and journey towards kitty health & wellness.