Help Save Dandy : Elizabeth’s Cat Needs Urgent Medical Care

Hi everyone,

This morning, my sweet cousin Elizabeth woke up to an absolute nightmare - her beloved cat, Dandy, was completely limp and paralyzed. Dandy isn’t just a cat. He’s her baby, her little angel, and such a bright light in her life. He’s brought her immeasurable joy and so much love in the short time they’ve had together. And heartbreakingly, he hasn’t even celebrated his first birthday yet.

Dandy’s life didn’t start easy. He was rescued from a horrific hoarding situation, found filthy, starving, and surrounded by other cats who hadn’t survived. Against all odds, he pulled through, and when Elizabeth brought him home, she gave him all the love he had never known. Now, just weeks before his first birthday, he is facing such a horrific battle. After all he has already overcome, it feels so cruel.

The cost of his care is already completely overwhelming. Today’s emergency vet visit alone was $700, and tomorrow will likely be another $500. He needs to be admitted for overnight care to see a neurologist Thursday morning, which will be another $1,400 - before even considering the MRI and additional treatments that will be necessary to find out what’s causing his paralysis. With no clear diagnosis yet, the uncertainty is absolutely terrifying.

The possible diagnoses are heartbreaking: FIP, a porto-systemic shunt, toxoplasmosis, meningitis, or a brain abnormality. Right now, we are waiting for liver test results to determine if surgery will be needed. If not, an MRI is the next step to try and uncover the cause of his sudden paralysis.

Elizabeth is absolutely devastated. This isn’t the first time she has faced such an unthinkable tragedy. Just but a few years ago, she lost her two beloved cats, Noodles and Chips, in a house fire. Dandy has been such an absolute joy to her and I can imagine the thought of losing him is utterly unbearable.

Dandy has fought so hard to have the life he has now and he deserves to live into his old age happy and healthy. We are asking for help to cover his mounting medical costs - ANY donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward his treatment and give him the best possible chance to pull through.

If you can’t donate, we ask that you please share this fundraiser. Every bit of kindness, every ounce of support, means the world right now.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Elizabeth and Dandy are so incredibly grateful.

With love,

Joanna

UPDATE - 1/30/2025

Hi everybody, this is Elizabeth checking in. Yesterday we had a long day at the vet and they gave him a small dose of a steroid which seemed to help him significantly. He was able to hold his head up, crawl around in the crate, and even took two steps. That's the most he has moved since this all began. He was trying so hard to walk, and seeing that his legs still worked gave me real hope. It was a night and day difference. I'm really hoping the steroids making that much of an impact are a big clue.

Today, I took him to the neurologist, Dr. Nanai, at the Veterinary Emergency Referral Center. Their treatment plan includes an MRI and spinal tap. Since we've pretty much ran every test imaginable, that is what we're left with at this point. I am desperate for an answer, and I'm clinging to hope that whatever it is, can be treated. My little boy is such a fighter and I want to do whatever we can to help him.

He will remain there overnight for observation, and hopefully by the time we pick him up tomorrow, we have a treatment plan in place. Thank you so much to everybody who has supported us in this journey - whether that is by donation or simply sharing this page. Without everybody's generosity, this wouldn't be possible.

With love,

Liz and Dandy