EDIT: We raised over $1800!!! Thank you so very much!
Early in January, I lost my cat, Baby Doug, to lymphoma, and I never saw it coming. He was only 9 and his loss has rocked my world.
There is nothing that I know better than cats. I have always loved them and they are a large part of my why and my life’s purpose. Early in my career, I learned that annual vet care for cats was roughly 30% lower than that of dogs and I was shocked. I decided to do my part to change that by talking about all of our vet visits. Every single one.
Shortly after learning about these stats, I met a little 8-week-old gray cat named Doug. I shared a special moment with him the very first time our eyes locked and that was it. That sealed the deal. That was the beginning of a great adventure. I wasn’t looking for a life-changing little friend, but that’s exactly what I got with him. My best little sidekick and copilot.
I will never understand why bad things happen to the kindest souls. Baby Doug was dealt so many crazy hands and we tackled each one in his 9.5 years. Terrible stomatitis leading to full mouth extractions before age 4; anal gland ruptures; oral ulcers; and cryptococcosis that took hold while trying to treat chronic neutropenia. We fully worked up that neutropenia too, and MAN, did he defy odds on that through bone marrow, spleen, and lymph node biopsies and a whole slew of tests with internal medicine.
We did it though! My strong little miracle overcame so much and always showed up ready to fight. I fought right alongside him through every single trial. The events of the last month have been very painful to accept. I owed it to him to protect his wellbeing, independence, and dignity, and give him the very best chance at both life, and at peace.
So much of why I advocate for cats has stemmed from wanting to be able to provide for my boy (and his brothers) and be an example for the next cat parent facing similar situations. Through all of our health battles, I have been very fortunate to have excellent veterinary care and advisement and I’m so thankful for my vet teams. But, like many moms, I also research various studies and treatments for ailments. There are many gaps when it comes to cat studies, and I think that is a direct result of the statistics surrounding cats receiving regular veterinary care.
Enter EveryCat Health Foundation. I love this organization because, for over 50 years, they have been dedicated to funding necessary research solely for cats.
For the past 4 years, to celebrate my birthday month (which is also National Cat Health Month), I have been raising money for this amazing organization. To date, we have raised over $2,900 for cats everywhere, and I would love to add at least another thousand to that by March 1st.
This year, I’m doing it in memory of my Baby Doug. I wish he and I had more birthdays to celebrate, but in his honor, lets help cats all around the world have more birthdays. ❤️
Thanks in advance for your support.
DONATE HERE: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/91xZOPqSiX
Caffeinated Low Tox Cat Mom 