So I’m not going to beat around the bush–things are tough right now. They’re tough for everyone, I’m not unique, but while I cut out as many expenses as I can and I’m fine going without things for myself, I still have to take care of my cats. Some of them have special dietary issues, some ended up with me because they were otherwise unadoptable, all are rescues of some stripe. If you want to help out, please see below. Screenshots of costs for transparency’s sake.
What Do Cats Need?
Food and litter are the biggest expenses next to vet visits. My cats are indoor so they’re at low risk for illness and accidents, but I’ve got a couple of seniors and a very expensive one with health issues, so I have to stay on top of checkups and diagnostics as they come up.
How To Help
What is here: smaller things that are easier for me to pick up from the post office.
What isn’t here: food/litter. For one reason, two of them are on diets that aren’t sold on Amazon. For another, unless you’re a Canadian with Prime shipping (which delivers to my door), shipments go to my PO Box because they go through the post office, and it gets tricky to coordinate help picking up large, heavy boxes from there and getting them home.
2. Send a gift card to PetSmart or Amazon.
I do a lot of shopping at PetSmart–it’s delivered right to my door. And I’m part of the rewards program, so I end up with discounts when they add up.
I do have Prime shipping so I can get litter and other cat food at Amazon delivered to my door if you’d prefer that. These can go to the same email as PayPal, my full name at gmail dot com or:
3. Send a monetary gift via PayPal.
I do have PayPal. Please put “gift”/choose the gift option when sending so I can keep it separate from my work for income tax purposes. For Canadians: I also have Interac e-transfer, to the same email address.
Who Needs the Most Help?
Meet Rodney.
He is a little fourteen-year-old, which makes him an old man. He has an abdominal mass that’s shrunk a little now that he’s on steroids. We’re doing palliative care, alternating different medications, and letting him eat whatever he wants (mostly pureed salmon tubes).
Meet Shawn
Who am I kidding? You already know Shawn.
No one racks up more expenses than Shawn. I found one hairball food that actually works for him, which cuts down on the vet trips because of the obstruction risks. He’s had two dental surgeries already. Now he’s got bladder cystitis. He is chaos incarnate.
That photo above is Shawn’s food for about two months plus urinary treats ($182 CAD including tax)
$40 will buy Feliway to keep everyone’s stress down.
$50 will buy Ninja and Rodney URI meds for two months each.
$122 CAD (including tax) will sponsor the main cat food for a month.
$27-35 CAD (including tax) will buy an order of lightweight clay cat litter (cost varies with where I buy it).
A visit and thorough blood workup is normally around $350-$450 CAD.
There are many worthy causes out there. Many people struggling. I hate asking because it’s always been important for me to take care of things myself, but that’s getting harder as the working poor. For folks who want to help my crew on occasion, please know that I am deeply grateful.
Writer of horror, mysteries/thrillers, and urban fantasy.