A Cat in Need

Let me tell you a story about a cat.

Not just any cat but a loyal loving friend and family member. The story begins when I was just 5 years old. A friend of ours, Mick had just had a litter of kittens and by that I mean his cat had had them. He showed up to our door with a tray of the cutest creatures i had ever seen. Fuzzy hair, soft fur with tiny eyes that just scream out LOVE ME.

Don't get me wrong i had owned cats before, i mean come on I was 5 after all. Just the year before I had lost one of those fury friends. His name was Arrow. He wandered to far onto the busy road and was hit by a car. It was not the impact that killed him it was internal bleeding and so he died cold and alone, in a bush awaiting the worms. We found him the next day, you can imagine my despair.

So looking at this box of kittens there was a space in my heart that needed to be filled and at the same time a lump in my throat, reminding me of what i had lost. I decided to pick one up. I picked them all up, one after the other and two of them stood out.

These two, brother and sister came to be known as Top-Cat (hands down the best cartoon ever made) and Missy. she got her name after her first night with us, where she launched a one cat onslaught against the blinds pulling them from their railing as she practiced her climbing technique. Missy - Mischiveous. Her mischief didn't end there, declaring war on wall paper, leather sofas and laser lights. We quickly learnt never to leave any type of food on the bench unattended as it almost certainly wouldn't be there when we got back.

To us Missy is more than just a cat, more than just a pet. Missy is family and when she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour of the spleen it broke our hearts. I don't know how i will break it to my 4 year old nephew. Maybe i don't have to because there is a chance. We have taken Missy to three different Vets, one of which was a specialist and they all were very optimistic. Although Missy is 16 years old (about 100 in human years) she is incredibly healthy (minus the life threatening tumour that is). Missy is still agile and is not in any sort of pain though her situation will change in 6 months if something is not done. Her spleen will rupture causing internal bleeding and a very painful and gruesome death.

The solution? Operate. We have discussed chemotherapy and steroid treatment, nether would be as effective as removing this cat killing monster. This type of surgery is only performed on older cats so there is an extremely good chance she will wake up and if she doesn't... At least we can say we tried. I cannot bear to say goodbye to my friend yet when she is in no pain whatsoever.

I am a University student and have to bear the cost of the surgery working a part time job. I have so far spent $2500 diagnosing Missy and the operation is set to cost another $2000+ which will place me in a mountain of debt to add to my ever growing student loan. So i ask, i plead, pet owners, family, friends, anyone who has lost someone special to them, find it in your heart to give a little. Save a life, help Missy remain mischievous for a few more years. Anything can help 50 cents $1, $2 anything, whatever you can give.

#AllLivesMatter