One day, Claudius wouldn't come down to eat breakfast.
This was very strange for him, as he adores food. He seemed a little shaky on his feet, so I carried him downstairs. He ate and seemed fine, so I went to work. But when I came home he was hiding, and when he came out he was wobbly and kept losing his balance and falling over. So I took him to the emergency vet. They determined he had an extremely high red blood cell count, was dehydrated, and had an arrythmia. $716.
Pill pockets are a ruse.
Claudius was given a blood pressure medication to take. However, he wouldn't take it in a pill pocket, he wouldn't take it in food, he wouldn't take it in a treat. So he got sicker. After a huge 10-hr work event on a Saturday, I had to take him in to a different emergency vet (closer so he didn't have to spend so much time in the car). They noted his high blood pressure and high red blood cell count. They did some more tests. $581. Told me the next step was an echocardiogram and an abdominal ultrasound. I could get the echo through where I work. So I took him in for that on Tuesday.
Heart all good.
The echo showed nothing wrong with his heart and the vet who did it explained to me that his high red blood cell count was probably what was making him fall over because it affects oxygen. (She used the term "sludge" a bunch.) Did not charge me, God bless her. Called another vet who could do an abdominal ultrasound but when I got there and they told me how much it cost I said I couldn't afford it. So they checked his red blood cell count and it was lower, and told me they still recommend the abdominal ultrasound ($700) and xrays ($Who knows) to see what's going on with his kidneys. That appointment was still $175.
Possible causes
It could essentially be bone marrow cancer, tumors on his kidneys, or just that he has high red blood cell count and has to be bled intermittently for the rest of his life.
Bottom line
Claudius is only 12. He is the light of everyone's life. Cats and dogs adore him. Humans fall instantly in love with him. Children want to pet him more than they want to pet any other cat in the world. I got him 12 years ago as a friend for Ilona, my darling cat who passed away in 2021, and they were almost instant friends. He is so rarely harsh that I know something's wrong when he is. He HATES taking his meds with a pill shooter (though I have gotten them down him the past few times, but not without drawing blood.)
More than all that, Claudius is the most emotionally supportive of my cats. When I am sick or sad and in bed, he brings me toys. He cuddles with me whenever he gets the chance. He doesn't deserve this.
What we need
Claudius needs an abdominal ultrasound for $700 and xrays for $?. He will also need meds sent to a compounded pharmacy so I can give them to him in a way he'll actually take them and not scratch me. After $1500 and four different vets we still don't have a definitive answer.
I am humbly asking for your support so my little lion man can stay with me at least a little longer. I always thought he'd be my old grandpa cat (even though he never had any kids) and I'd be lost without him.
Anything you can give matters
I work in fundraising (among other things) and I can tell you that every dollar helps me out. I so appreciate your assistance. I know times are tight. If you can't do anything, sharing this story would be helpful.
Thank you!
