Fighting For Our Cat’s Life - Severe Skull Erosion

Hi everyone and thank you for taking the time to read about our silly and sweet 7-year-old rescue cat, who means the world to my brother and I. My name is Emily and I’m a college student reaching out for help to save the life of our beloved cat, “Gerl” (named Benzie by her previous neglectful owners). We’re reaching out with heavy hearts as we navigate an incredibly difficult and uncertain medical journey with her. She’s been battling something serious, but our team of veterinarians still haven’t arrived at a clear diagnosis. What they do know; however, is that something is deeply wrong, and it could cost her life.

A couple of months ago, unbeknownst to us, she developed an abscess deep underneath the skin above her right eye that burst open. Testing revealed it was caused by Staph bacteria, which we treated with a round of Doxycycline, but a subsequent CT scan revealed the unimaginable. It revealed a 6mm hole in her skull and sinus, but no visible tumors or masses. Because of that and a soft tissue biopsy that came back negative for cancer, we’re now left facing two strong possibilities:

-Bone cancer that’s aggressive but hard to detect/hasn’t yet shown itself clearly

-Or a chronic bone infection (osteomyelitis), likely Staph-related, possibly forming a biofilm—a type of hidden bacterial shield that makes the infection resistant to treatment and detection; can silently destroy bone

Neither diagnosis has officially been confirmed yet, because the next steps (like a bone biopsy or specialist surgery) are invasive, risky, and expensive – as they require the expertise of a specialist.

We’ve already spent over $6,000 of savings on diagnostics and care—thanks to my brother but we’re at our financial limit. That’s why we’re asking for help. The next steps—bone biopsy, advanced imaging, or potential surgery with a specialist—are far beyond what we can afford on our own. We started this GoFundMe because we don’t want money to be the reason we lose her, especially so young. One of the most confusing parts of her case is that she doesn’t “look sick” in the typical ways—she hasn’t had a fever, her bloodwork looks relatively normal, and she still eats, is active, and seeks/gives affection. But she grinds her teeth every day now, a likely sign of nerve pain—possibly from the infection, cancer, or bone damage affecting nearby facial nerves.

If this is a treatable infection and not cancer, we have a small but critical window to act. She’s still fighting. She still eating, purring, and wants to be here. And if there’s any chance that this is an infection and not cancer, we want to treat it aggressively and give her a real shot at recovery. But even if it turns out to be cancer, we want to give her the dignity of a clear diagnosis and the chance for comfort through palliative care.

We’ve set our goal at $6,000 based on current vet estimates for advanced diagnostics, specialist care, and possible surgery. Any amount beyond that will go toward her long-term treatment and recovery, or to help another animal in need if funds remain. If you can give anything, even $5, it brings us closer to getting her the help she needs. And if you can’t donate, please share this story. It might reach someone who can.

What Your Donation Will Help Cover:

-Specialist consultations (oncology, internal medicine, surgery)

-Further diagnostics (bone biopsy, imaging)

-Advanced treatment such as surgical debridement if it is an infection

-Long-term antibiotics or cancer treatment

-Pain relief, hospitalization, and supportive care

-Emergency costs or follow ups

Disclaimer: When we post pictures of Gerl, we are aware that people might assume her eye was damaged from this illness. But the truth is, her eye has always been unique — likely a congenital defect, as confirmed by our vet when we first rescued her at 9 months old. It's just one of those things that makes her even more special — and it's a heartbreaking coincidence that her current illness is now affecting the area around it.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Emily, Sander, and Gerl (Gerlie Mae)