A second chance for Big Bear

Big Bear is a sweet, fluffy, gentle tomcat who was abandoned and left to fend for himself on the streets of Los Angeles. He needs medical help to start his journey to a forever home: a full dental to address his broken teeth, exposed nerves, and stomatitis (inflammation of the gums), removal of a large fatty (non-cancerous) mass on his stomach, and a neuter. After he heals from his surgery, Biggie will be ready for adoption - and a second chance at love. I'm hoping the community can band together to help cover his treatment plan and vet bills.

Abandoned, ignored and suffering

On a stormy night in northeastern Los Angeles, Big Bear showed up drenched and hungry at the hillside home of an elderly neighbor. She took one look at this poor bedraggled creature, opened her door, and Big Bear walked right in. He was exhausted, filthy, matted, and suffering from a bad upper respiratory and eye infection. He was missing his entire upper row of teeth and his lower teeth were broken and infected. From his sweet, trusting demeanor, it was clear someone once loved this cat and that he once had a home.

After searching the neighborhood for his owner, I learned he’s been on his own for over two years, showing up at doorsteps for food and shelter, only to be ignored or shooed away. During that time, he contracted FIV - most likely defending himself against other cats while competing for food. FIV causes major dental issues for cats on the street.

Safe, warm and recovering

Big Bear finally picked the right house to visit. The kind neighbor who let him in called me for help because I'm a local rescuer. Since then, she has been fostering Big Bear and I have been medicating and vetting him. Despite all of the interventions and supportive care he’s had to endure - despite all of the people who have failed him - Big Bear remains the most gentle, patient, trusting kitty that ever lived. He is so grateful, it’s heartbreaking.

Help fund Big Bear’s treatment plan

Now that Biggie is recovering from his upper respiratory, eye and gum infections, he’ll be well enough to go through surgery to address a few pressing needs:

After talking to several vets, we’ve decided the best course of action for Biggie is to have all three procedures done at once. A la carte surgeries are slightly cheaper, but we don’t want to put him through 2-3 rounds of anesthesia and recoveries, especially since he’s a little older and has FIV.

The treatment plan estimate is attached, as well as paid invoices for blood work, cytology screens and medication. We are hoping to raise funds to cover these expenses, with a little wiggle room in case he needs more teeth extracted than the vet estimated.

Thank you so much for caring about this big, beautiful lovable guy.

We want more than anything to bring him back to health so he can find a family to love him forever.

It took seven hours to remove all the mats, filth and flea dirt. What a glow-up! Biggie was so happy to be clean and comfortable.

Biggie loves love. When he's happy, he snorts like a tiny warthog and smiles. It's very endearing.

After living in bushes for 2+ years, Big Bear was introduced to the heated blanket lifestyle - and he's never going back! He repaid the favor by making a fresh batch of biscuits.