A Cat Dad’s Plea to End Inbreeding
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Please Help Macaron Jump Again -- A cat dad’s plea for ending in-breeding
When I adopted Macaron from the animal rescue, he was only 8 weeks old. He’s the sweetest and friendliest cat anyone could've met, even to total strangers. He has the loudest purr and he is just a naturally happy kitty!
Unfortunately, he started battling against health problems as young as 5-month old. -- chronic allergies, severe respiratory infections, you name it! Because of his delicate muscles and tendons, he chronically suffered forearm tendon injuries just from jumping up and down. I would find out much later that Macaron is predisposed to birth defects because his parents are close relatives or even siblings.
Although I had pet insurance for Macaron initially, his numerous health problems soon resulted in insurance claim denials. I eventually cancelled the insurance.
When he was about 2.5 year old, I woke up one morning seeing Macaron limping on one leg. I thought he was suffering from yet another bad jump. Little did I know at the time, the problem was much more severe than that.
His vet diagnosed Macaron with luxating patellas on both knees. It is a rare condition in cats, and according to his vet's assessment, this is most likely genetically caused by inbreeding. As his cat-dad, I was in shock and disbelief. I sought a second opinion and got the same diagnosis.
His limping deteriorated rather quickly. In less than 6 months, he has stopped going into litter box completely due to his inability to jump. I constantly had to clean after him because he was unable to make it into the litter box.
But despite his various health problems, he is still the sweetest cat ever. He is always in good spirits and always purrs oh so loudly. He still waits for me by the door every single day. He will limp his way to greet anyone who comes to visit, and will flip on his back for a belly rub. He’s not ready to give up on his life, and neither am I. He's barely 4 years old and he still has a long life ahead, so I will do whatever I can to ensure he won’t live the rest of his days limping and suffering.
I have been researching hospitals throughout Greater Toronto Area, because I want to give Macaron the best care he deserves. I finally got him into the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Fortunately, it is only a 2-hour drive from my home.
I chose OVC because not only it is one of the best veterinary schools and teaching hospitals in Canada, it also boasts a great staff-to-patient ratio that I could not find in our hometown Toronto. And since it's a teaching hospital, the surgery is actually less expensive.
The surgery went well, but there was a little complication during his post-surgery resting and the two pins installed for supporting needed to come out. With this special event and the post-checkup like x-rays as well as the second round of surgery on the second leg, even with the teaching hospital rate, my vet bill is starting to add up very quickly. When all the surgery and treatments are over, I will have to pay over CAD$5000.
Even though I have some saving set aside since I cancelled the insurance, it is not a small amount by any measure. I can surely use all the help I can get.
I am hoping to raise at least CAD$3000 to help with Macaron’s surgery expenses; any assistance is welcome and gratefully appreciated. Anything net of $3000 will be donated to the Toronto Cat Rescue and Humane Society, where I have been volunteering.
(NOTE: in the video he's only limping on one leg; it was the initial stage where his left leg was between Stage 1-2 and the right leg was just barely Stage 1. Both his legs have reached Stage 2 when we did the surgery on the first leg, and without surgery they would continue to deteriorate to Stage 4. Unfortunately no videos of both legs being in stage 2 was taken as I didn’t document it and did not think about starting a GoFundMe campaign at that point. But one can imagine how bad it could be if no further surgery is done and both legs progress to stage 4.)
Please help spread the word if you cannot donate, I would appreciate it with the same gratefulness. I also want to spread the word because I would like to raise awareness about the need to neuter and spay kittens and puppies, and that inbreeding happens by accident or, even deliberately by irresponsible people. These people will sell inbred puppies or kittens and abandon the “defects” that they cannot sell (just like Macaron).
Please consider adopting instead of buying a pet and always spay or neuter your pets. Let’s end these tragic stories once and for all.
Thank you for reading Macaron's story and for your generosity!
You can see more of Macaron on Instagram or Facebook! https://www.instagram.com/macaronmochithecats/
https://www.facebook.com/Macaronthecat/
For transparency, I wanted to share Macaron's itemized receipt for his first round of procedures (i.e. 1st leg surgery) for anyone who was curious.
When I adopted Macaron from the animal rescue, he was only 8 weeks old. He’s the sweetest and friendliest cat anyone could've met, even to total strangers. He has the loudest purr and he is just a naturally happy kitty!
Unfortunately, he started battling against health problems as young as 5-month old. -- chronic allergies, severe respiratory infections, you name it! Because of his delicate muscles and tendons, he chronically suffered forearm tendon injuries just from jumping up and down. I would find out much later that Macaron is predisposed to birth defects because his parents are close relatives or even siblings.
Although I had pet insurance for Macaron initially, his numerous health problems soon resulted in insurance claim denials. I eventually cancelled the insurance.
When he was about 2.5 year old, I woke up one morning seeing Macaron limping on one leg. I thought he was suffering from yet another bad jump. Little did I know at the time, the problem was much more severe than that.
His vet diagnosed Macaron with luxating patellas on both knees. It is a rare condition in cats, and according to his vet's assessment, this is most likely genetically caused by inbreeding. As his cat-dad, I was in shock and disbelief. I sought a second opinion and got the same diagnosis.
His limping deteriorated rather quickly. In less than 6 months, he has stopped going into litter box completely due to his inability to jump. I constantly had to clean after him because he was unable to make it into the litter box.
But despite his various health problems, he is still the sweetest cat ever. He is always in good spirits and always purrs oh so loudly. He still waits for me by the door every single day. He will limp his way to greet anyone who comes to visit, and will flip on his back for a belly rub. He’s not ready to give up on his life, and neither am I. He's barely 4 years old and he still has a long life ahead, so I will do whatever I can to ensure he won’t live the rest of his days limping and suffering.
I have been researching hospitals throughout Greater Toronto Area, because I want to give Macaron the best care he deserves. I finally got him into the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Fortunately, it is only a 2-hour drive from my home.
I chose OVC because not only it is one of the best veterinary schools and teaching hospitals in Canada, it also boasts a great staff-to-patient ratio that I could not find in our hometown Toronto. And since it's a teaching hospital, the surgery is actually less expensive.
The surgery went well, but there was a little complication during his post-surgery resting and the two pins installed for supporting needed to come out. With this special event and the post-checkup like x-rays as well as the second round of surgery on the second leg, even with the teaching hospital rate, my vet bill is starting to add up very quickly. When all the surgery and treatments are over, I will have to pay over CAD$5000.
Even though I have some saving set aside since I cancelled the insurance, it is not a small amount by any measure. I can surely use all the help I can get.
I am hoping to raise at least CAD$3000 to help with Macaron’s surgery expenses; any assistance is welcome and gratefully appreciated. Anything net of $3000 will be donated to the Toronto Cat Rescue and Humane Society, where I have been volunteering.
(NOTE: in the video he's only limping on one leg; it was the initial stage where his left leg was between Stage 1-2 and the right leg was just barely Stage 1. Both his legs have reached Stage 2 when we did the surgery on the first leg, and without surgery they would continue to deteriorate to Stage 4. Unfortunately no videos of both legs being in stage 2 was taken as I didn’t document it and did not think about starting a GoFundMe campaign at that point. But one can imagine how bad it could be if no further surgery is done and both legs progress to stage 4.)
Please help spread the word if you cannot donate, I would appreciate it with the same gratefulness. I also want to spread the word because I would like to raise awareness about the need to neuter and spay kittens and puppies, and that inbreeding happens by accident or, even deliberately by irresponsible people. These people will sell inbred puppies or kittens and abandon the “defects” that they cannot sell (just like Macaron).
Please consider adopting instead of buying a pet and always spay or neuter your pets. Let’s end these tragic stories once and for all.
Thank you for reading Macaron's story and for your generosity!
You can see more of Macaron on Instagram or Facebook! https://www.instagram.com/macaronmochithecats/
https://www.facebook.com/Macaronthecat/
For transparency, I wanted to share Macaron's itemized receipt for his first round of procedures (i.e. 1st leg surgery) for anyone who was curious.
Organizer
Daniel Young
Organizer
Toronto, ON