Jones the Cat - my best friend needs some help
Donation protected
We met in 2003. Jones the Cat was a scruffy, lost little kitten who was at the South Los Angeles animal shelter. I'd visited on a whim and I almost left without him, but ten minutes before the shelter closed, he screamed out from his cage and insisted that I stay with him. That afternoon, I took him home. I wouldn't know it that day, but it would become one of the most significant decisions I'd make in my life. Through several apartments, job changes, and starting a new business, Jonesy (and his little brother Chaplin) was there, backing his dad every moment. We'd become a little family, and Jones the Cat was at the center of it all.
On New Year's Day 2016, Jonesy's brother Chaplin passed from feline COPD. Through the next year that we were navigating our grief, Jonesy saw me through every moment of that awful time. Our "conversations" were posted on social media, and eventually into a book titled "And I've Got You: Conversations With My Cat" that was released on Amazon in May 2020.
In 2017, I received the difficult news that Jonesy had come down with leukemia. He went on chemotherapy and was a champion through the process, coming back with good results through almost three years of blood tests, exams, pills, and the occasional bout of illness. On top of hyperthyroidism and the onset of kidney disease this year, Jonesy's been through a lot.
When COVID-19 happened, my business (a board game cafe in Southern California) shut down due to the pandemic and our main source of income was cut off. It's still doing to-go business but the income is a tiny fraction of what it once was. This summer and fall have been a particularly difficult time for Jonesy's health, and he's had multiple vet visits due to his kidney problems, a painful urinary tract infection and the ongoing management of his cancer. It was tricky but mostly I stayed on top of Jonesy's medical bills.
This past week, Jonesy was hospitalized. His kidney function was severely compromised and investigating the reason involved him staying four days and three nights in the clinic. It broke my heart to leave him there but the x-rays, ultrasounds and monitoring his kidney levels were essential to diagnose what was wrong. His stay there was necessary, but the doctors noted that even has he was stabilizing, Jones looked visibly depressed. This was not surprising as he'd never been away from home before, and each day he was away, his spirits were declining. I was finally able to bring him home on Friday, October 23rd.
Some may wonder, "why go through all this for an elderly cat?" I'll just say that besides sharing an entire lifetime together, Jonesy has seen me through the loss of my parents, the death of his brother, and the beginnings and shutdown of a business that was close to my heart. He's always stood by me, I will always do right by him.
His medical expenses are considerable, but even if we don't receive any assistance here, I will continue seeking the best care for him. If you're able to help, Jonesy and I would be most grateful.
On New Year's Day 2016, Jonesy's brother Chaplin passed from feline COPD. Through the next year that we were navigating our grief, Jonesy saw me through every moment of that awful time. Our "conversations" were posted on social media, and eventually into a book titled "And I've Got You: Conversations With My Cat" that was released on Amazon in May 2020.
In 2017, I received the difficult news that Jonesy had come down with leukemia. He went on chemotherapy and was a champion through the process, coming back with good results through almost three years of blood tests, exams, pills, and the occasional bout of illness. On top of hyperthyroidism and the onset of kidney disease this year, Jonesy's been through a lot.
When COVID-19 happened, my business (a board game cafe in Southern California) shut down due to the pandemic and our main source of income was cut off. It's still doing to-go business but the income is a tiny fraction of what it once was. This summer and fall have been a particularly difficult time for Jonesy's health, and he's had multiple vet visits due to his kidney problems, a painful urinary tract infection and the ongoing management of his cancer. It was tricky but mostly I stayed on top of Jonesy's medical bills.
This past week, Jonesy was hospitalized. His kidney function was severely compromised and investigating the reason involved him staying four days and three nights in the clinic. It broke my heart to leave him there but the x-rays, ultrasounds and monitoring his kidney levels were essential to diagnose what was wrong. His stay there was necessary, but the doctors noted that even has he was stabilizing, Jones looked visibly depressed. This was not surprising as he'd never been away from home before, and each day he was away, his spirits were declining. I was finally able to bring him home on Friday, October 23rd.
Some may wonder, "why go through all this for an elderly cat?" I'll just say that besides sharing an entire lifetime together, Jonesy has seen me through the loss of my parents, the death of his brother, and the beginnings and shutdown of a business that was close to my heart. He's always stood by me, I will always do right by him.
His medical expenses are considerable, but even if we don't receive any assistance here, I will continue seeking the best care for him. If you're able to help, Jonesy and I would be most grateful.
Organizer
Terry Chiu
Organizer
Glendale, CA