Leonard's Health Crisis: Help Save Our Beloved Cat's Life

My name is River Gilson. My partner and I have been raising our dear cat Leonard from the time he was a little kitten, and along with our other two cats he is the light of our life and our whole world. There is never a dull moment with him. He is silly, playful, a bit of a bully to his brothers, and a sweet, affectionate gentleman to every new person he meets. Aekyung is a small business owner and runs a successful violin and viola studio, and Leonard has become the unofficial mascot of her business. He is always eager to greet her students when they walk in the door, and he's especially good at making Aekyung's younger students feel welcome and excited for their lessons. The familiar refrain of "Where's Leonard?" when students walk through the door never fails to brighten my day when I'm home.

Leonard has been a long time sufferer of pica, and he's especially fond of anything stringy. We have tried to curb this habit, but he is determined. If there's a scrap of hair or fluff on the floor, he will eat it. He's gotten at fibers in furniture and his cat trees. We've even caught him snatching dental floss out of the garbage can.

Over the last few days, his behavior has become increasingly concerning. He began throwing up his meals shortly after he ate them. Then, it switched to heaving with nothing coming out. Neither of us have seen him going to the bathroom, and he started eating much less than normal at meal times.

Our gut told us something was up, and we rushed him to the 24 hour veterinary emergency room. Sure enough, his x-ray showed an extremely distended stomach with lots of little fibers and a mass in it. The emergency vet and team recommended overnight supervision and surgery in the morning, but unfortunately we did not have the means to keep him there overnight.

Lately, our financial situation has been tougher than normal. In June of last year, I was placed on medical leave from my pharmacy tech position of over 7 years and have taken this time to get well and ready to go back to work. I am so happy that I recently accepted an offer with Stamford Health Oncology, but it is still two weeks until I start work and a month away from seeing a paycheck. The timing of this emergency is devastating for us.

He is in stable condition right now, but he will need to receive treatment within 24-48 hours of today (Tuesday, April 15th 2025) or run the risk of a life-threatening perforation.

Throughout the course of our relationship, Aekyung and I have leaned on each other, and don't often ask for help. But we have never been in more desperate need of community care and funding. Leonard is a light in so many people's lives and we truly consider him our son. Losing him is not an option.

We need funds for the following related to Leonard's care:

-An ultrasound to determine the severity of the obstruction

-Surgery and/or any other recommended interventions

-Anesthesia and any medications needed during or after care

-An enclosure so that he can heal safely

-Any follow ups or continuing vet visits

Thank you so much for your care and support for our furry son and musical mascot!