Eliza and Evan's Kitten Recovery Fund

As you all may or may not know, my sweet kitty Otis met an untimely death at age 5 in September. Evan and I had rescued him off the streets, and he was truly the light of my life. When he passed, I was so stricken with grief, so I went to the shelter by my new Brooklyn home to be cheered up by the kittens there. I accidentally fell in love with one. The little girl at the end of the row was alert, playful, and tenderly reached her paw out to place in my hand. I decided that adopting a kitten could give me the opportunity to provide another rescue kitten with a happy life like the one Otis had.

 

Unfortunately, little Etta wasn’t available for adoption yet, and the vets were backed up. I ended up going to visit her most days for 6 weeks while she diligently lived in a tiny cage with a litter box. Every day, she would light up when she saw me and would pull my hand into the cage so she could snuggle up and give me kisses.

 

After much persistence, she finally came home with me on November 3rd, ready to stretch her legs and enjoy her new home. She was immediately playful and curious, and very excited to cuddle. I was so thrilled to have her in my life.

 

One week in, things started to take a turn. She wound up in the vet with a number of infections, and at the time I thought the $500 bill was outrageous. That time, the treatments seemed to really help, and she was back to her normal self for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately just before Thanksgiving, that all changed. She has since been in and out of the vet a number of times as she experiences persistent fevers and spends most of her days lethargic and in bed.

 

Though extensive blood tests and PCR panels have been run, and numerous X-rays have been taken, there has still been no definitive prognosis. As of today (1/11) she is being treated for a suspected systemic fungal infection and is showing small but steady signs of improvement. 

 

This process, of course, has come with a significant cost. My medical bills are up to $8k, and it's possible that we're not out of the woods yet. I am so grateful to my parents for helping me take care of her, and we're trying to stay optimistic that she makes a full recovery!

 

Etta is such a special kitty (and only 6 months old!), and I really believe she deserves to live a good life outside of the cage she grew up in.

 

As a graduate school student, I am living off of savings and student loans, and clearly, this was an unforeseen expense beyond what I could have ever imagined.

 

So, in short, I am asking my friends and family to support me in funding Etta’s diagnosis and treatment. Any amount helps immensely and will be used to pay off my medical bills from the past 8 weeks. I am so grateful to each and every one of you for donating and/or sharing this request with your networks.

We love and appreciate you all!!

xo Eliza and Evan