Helping Mr. Meat Loaf #StayFurry

 

Loaf is my ride or die. Has been with me for countless moves, still an outside kitty.

 

Have you ever had an animal that changed your entire existence? I mean a creature that went from being your pet to becoming your peer, and is the ONE that is "YOUR" animal? When people say…oh you gotta meet HIS cat or have you seen HER dog.

A creature you are so in tune with mentally and emotionally that you share a  unique "language" to communicate. When the understanding of each other changed from  “me training them" to "us working together". If any of that resonates with you, I want to invite you to stick around for a few minutes, get comfy, and hear about the little Loaf who did just that for me and who needs our help.
 

A creature that is so in tune with you emotionally and mentally that you have a unique “language” to communicate defined by the shared understanding of each other that began when we realized it's no longer “training” them yet more so ***to work  with them. If any of that resonates with you, I want to invite you to stick around for a few minutes, get comfy, and hear about the little Loaf who did just that for me and who needs our help.

 

My mom was a “crazy Cat Lady” while I was growing up. The co-op of furr and fun reached up to 20 cats at times, yet around 10 adults and 5 kittens was the average day to day. Once I got to the age and mentality to have “my” cat outta the bunch, one that connected with me and we became best buds.. being from Maine, the last cat that was “mine” before I left to the marines and was the one that I became closest with was Snickers (a Maine Coon)

 

I did not get my own cat until I was 30. Miss Kitty was a street kitten we took in. I let her have 2 litters before she was fixed…and from the second little came this pure ball of fury that was just as FURRocious as he was adorable.

 

Mr. Meatloaf Sandwich is his name…he is all bout being furries and playing the IN/OUT game. He knows how to work it…while out-smarting half the humans he has met. Loaf could leave anytime he wanted, and can definitely can hunt enough to not worry about food. He chooses to come back and kick it…. I loves this guy.

Last year Loaf was a fraction of his normal FURRY level and the coat he did have looked like a ragamuffin. (he is kinda a princess when it comes to his furries). His “Meow” lost its sound. Eating twice as much food as normal AND still becoming ILL type thin. All while still playing one of his fav hobbies …..making bunny friends, and getting to know the insides and out. (They were being furry in the wrong hood) This summer was EXTRA, 14 confirmed bunny "friends" in under 2 months. The first was it could be worms eating all his nutrients. To Cozy Cat vet he went (they are AWESOME, by the way).

 

https://www.cozycat.net/

 

GOOD NEWS - No Worms!

 

On the flip side of that, Loaf has Hyperthyroidism.  Hyperthyroidism results when the thyroid gland over-produces thyroid hormones.

In almost 99 percent of the cases, hyperthyroidism is caused by a benign tumor of the thyroid gland. The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is located in the neck, with one lobe on each side. It plays an important role in regulating the body’s “engine,” or metabolic rate. When the thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of thyroid hormones, it causes the cat’s “engine” to run at an abnormally high speed. This high metabolic rate negatively affects almost all of the cat’s organs.

The Dr said Loafers gets the award of the highest levels she has seen since she has been at that practice!. Normal range of feline T4 = 0.8-4.7 (2.3-4.7 is the high end). My Furry Ninja’s levels were 12.4! Cruising over 3 times harder than the norm, he was metabolizing himself to death. So we got him on Meds for it. Take 2 times a day  of a “normal” dose for a month and check back. ….(which is just in general tricky for any schedule with an outdoor cat) When we went back for his treatment check-up, his levels were still in the 7.8! So we had to double the dose.  

At his last check up even on a double dose his levels were climbing again, meaning he is getting a tolerance to the medication. Besides being  a life long medication since his metabolism is working 3 times the norm,  his heart is having to work in over drive.  Which leads to a whole list of issues including the wall around the heart get thicker making heart attacks and strokes a realistic concern.  

The Vet suggested Radioactive Iodine treatment. In her opinion, it would be a more effective solution since he is 10 (and for cats to make it to 18-20 isn’t unreasonable).
 

BASIC OVERVIEW. It is a one-time painless treatment…that kills the cancer cells so the normal thyroid cells return to normal function after the death of the hyperactive ones. It has a 97.9% success rate and the vet said she hasn’t seen a case not be effective. The end result is our furry friend's quality of life being what it would be if the thyroid wasn’t an issue.

 

Since CozyCat does not do this treatment, they recommended RadCat in Carrboro. After doing my research and checking them out….they are top in their field as well as communication and interaction with the patient and family. (Feel goods Carrboro peoples)

 

The Radioactive Iodine Treatment and everything that goes with it lands at around 2000.

That is the cost of 2.5 years of the daily meds…so even on a long term level, Iodine is a more cost effective solution with better results.
Anything Raised past the main initial amount will be put toward mountain of other expenses such as x-rays, labs, boarding and medications.

 

https://theanimalhospitalcarrboro.com/radcats/

 

I have looked into the CareCard and even with their 20% interest, I did not get approved (Rude)

 

GoFundMe was mentioned and here we are. This is where I ask for support from the pet lovers out there….the people that have had their own personal moments with Loafies, people wanting to put some good energy and karma for their Furry friends and anyone who has been through similar hurdles and understands the struggle to return support to the creatures that give us unmeasurable support.

 

To help others in these types of situations, I will be sharing solutions that helped. Spiraling on GoFundMe guides, I came across CareCapPlus on one of their resource list pages. (Its like the anti-CareCard) Where they help out with situations like this… To create a Payment option over 12 months that has no interest or fees. That is not credit and can get approved with credit scores as low as 400. I have contacted them and they will be reaching out to RadCat to see if they would join their program. Their goal is to provide reasonable payment solutions for any medical treatment (human or vet) to patients who cannot handle out-of-pocket costs or qualify for credit to cover the rising expenses.

 

https://carecapplus.com/

 

***So as a small token to show how grateful I am to everyone that helps out. There are 4 GIFT TEIRS of a a unique design I created limited only for this fundraiser!

the 4 REWARD/GIFT TEIRS

$25 : Fuzzy :: Loafies inFURRiated pin

$50 : Fluffy :: Loafies - Enabler sticker pack

$100 : Furry :: Limited Color Enabler t-shirt (limited olive style)

$150 : MaineCoon :: all the above + 1 branding strategy "Power Move"  (Business/personal/art)

#stayfurry