So. News. A cat & a contest.

[rhienelleth]

Our cat Julius has not been feeling well lately. At my husband's urging (a rare occurrence), we took him to the vet, and discovered the disheartening news that he needs orthodontic surgery. Several of his teeth are basically going bad, and need to be pulled. Until they are, he will continue to have abscessed teeth which make him sick and require antibiotics to treat. We only noticed something was wrong because one of his eyes is routinely more closed than the other, and weeping, a respiratory response to the abscess.

You can see it a little here, even on this crappy phone pic:



The eye on the right is slightly smaller than the eye on the left. This is actually a huge improvement, because the vet gave him a good dose of antibiotics. However, it is temporary. The vet made it clear this is a short term fix. He needs surgery, which as you might imagine, is expensive, and the sooner the better.

This comes at the worst possible time, as these things so often do. Just in time for Christmas, which we were already struggling to find the extra funds for. My husband reacted...shall we say, badly, to this news. In an effort to be positive, I said "maybe I can sell some jewelry to help pay for it". He was skeptical (to put it politely). He likes to pretend he's a glass half-full kind of guy, but lately its been all glass empty, all the time, as some of you might know from recent entries, which shall remain locked. We really did not need one more hit, let me tell you. 

I've been struggling with what to do for two days. I don't like asking people for help, especially when so many are already struggling. I know to some people, paying for surgery for a cat is ludicrous, but please keep in mind...we don't and can't have kids. For the moment, our pets are the closest thing we have. They are our family, in a very real way. As much as he might grumble and act tough, my husband was the one who said "I think Julius is really sick. Take him to the vet." And this, at a time when he doesn't want to spend extra money at all. 

In an effort to prove my skeptical husband wrong, I am going to try to raise funds to help pay for the cat surgery. As I said, I know times are tight, and I know a lot of people might want to help, but really can't afford it. I understand, and I feel bad even asking. Honestly, we just don't have the money. But regardless, we still need to do the surgery, or Julius will just continue to get sicker. I don't know how else to come up with it. I'm not asking people to go buy things from my Etsy store (although if you do, thank you). What I am going to do, is throw up a paypal donate button, and offer to do a raffle that includes everyone who donates. I will give away up to five pairs of my studded earrings, winners choose their stones, in a random drawing from everyone who donates. (and if only five people donate, well guess what?) Participants get an entry into the raffle for every $5 donated. So, $5 is one entry, $20 is four entries, and so on. The earrings could make a great Christmas gift for someone, or a beautiful prize just for the winner. 

Please, link to this in your journal, send a link to any friends you have who love their furry companions, etc. I appreciate any help people can give, whether it's just hugs and supports or a donation. Times are tough right now, both emotionally and literally. I continue to appreciate how much love and support is offered by people I've never met in real life. Thank you to everyone reading this.


Cat Surgery Donation Button

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Conside the word spread, and I'll see what I can do to help.

Also, here's a thought. You probably don't want more bils, but in an emergency, I've found that Care Credit handles bills for human and animal alike. It's saved my butt when I've had no money, but had to take cats to the doctor. Must be easy to get, cause I got a small account.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Sadly, because I am on unemployment, they would not approve it. :(

Thank you for the help and encouragement. :)

So. News. A cat & a contest.

[pingback-bot.livejournal.com]

User roseaponi referenced to your post from So. News. A cat & a contest. (http://roseaponi.livejournal.com/35203.html) saying: [...] worth, rhienelleth's work is amazing. Originally posted by at So. News. A cat & a contest. [...]

[tltrent.livejournal.com]

Boosting signal is about all I can do right now, but I know what it is to lose a beloved pet. And believe me, I've paid for what most would consider ridiculously expensive surgeries, so I know how you feel.

Good luck to you and kitty!

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much!

[roseaponi.livejournal.com]

*hugs* this happened to my Ginger, too. We should've bought the pet insurance when they offered it :( Poor baby thought she was going to die when the painkiller wore off, and I had to force-feed her a few days, just so you're warned. But she recovered well and lived years afterward.

Reposted on LJ and FB.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Apparently, this can be fairly common as cats get older. :( I've never had it happen to one of mine before, though. Thank you so much.

[celli]

Signal boosted! There's also the dusty_corners community, which takes posts like this.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about that community, thank you celli. And thank you for everything else, too. {{HUGS}}

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Here by way of celli! My cat is totally my baby and when we had huge vet bills earlier this year we were lucky would could sort of cover them. (well, put them on a credit card and pay them off over the summer.) So I am happy to donate.

I'm also going to buy a pair of studs, because they are gorgeous and I am sick of wearing the same pair every day. :D

Will also signal boost.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you, thank you! Several people have mentioned coming here by way of your journal, I think some have even purchased jewelry. Thank you so much.

[emmapoe.livejournal.com]

Here from imaginarycircus! I can't afford to enter the raffle, but I did send you a small donation. Gentle pats to the kitty. I hope all is well soon.

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

I spent a few thousand (over multiple life-threatening incidents) on my Madeline and never regretted it. I don't have several thousand available to me right now, but I hope that helps chip things down a bit.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks hon. I appreciate it more than words can say. I grew up on a farm. It's easy to say I was raised not to attach in that way to animals...but as life has moved on, I've found that to be less and less true. I love my pets dearly.

[kistha.livejournal.com]

Boosted to the few, the proud the three people who read my LJ. :

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

*snorts laughter* I'm sure there are more than three...surely. Thank you, love.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Here via a signal boost. I totally understand about not having the money to pay for our beloved furry babies. I'm broke, but I could offer to auction custom a custom fanfic to my f-list and have the winning bidder donate to you.

Would this be acceptable?

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

That would be amazing! Thank you so much. I'll also enter you and into the raffle based on whatever the auction amount is.

Wow, I really thought I could get through all these comments without tearing up again, but I was wrong.

(P.S. I feel compelled to use a naked chest icon of my own!)

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I made an auction post on my LJ for a H50 fic. I'm having it end Saturday at midnight to get a quick turnaround for your donation.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

My ancient kitty Koshka, rest his quiet soul, had similar problems with his teeth in the years before he passed away. I remember the cost, but I was lucky enough to have a job and money to pay for it. I hope what we can give helps.

Here via imaginarycircus

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I had no idea anything was going on for the longest time. We recently rescued an abused kitten, and when I found a kitty tooth on the kitchen floor, I thought it was hers...like maybe kittens lose teeth like puppies. And Julius has been acting a little off since we introduced her, so I chalked his lack of play and down demeanor up to that. But they've been getting along well for a almost a month now, and his lethargy and whatnot was just getting worse.

Anyway, he is only 8, middle years for a cat. But the vet said this wasn't at all uncommon in middle aged to older cats, so. And I'm rambling on, but thank you so much. I appreciate the help more than I can say.

[kindness_says]

Here via imaginarycircus! Julius is adorable, and I'm so sorry for you! My kittens are only about a year old and I'm already SO TERRIFIED of something happening to one or both of them! My roommate makes fun of me for being morbid. :| Will definitely donate - I only wish I could give more! (I'm still in school.)

Your jewelry is beautiful. Maybe I can buy my mom's Christmas present from you, too? She's allergic to nickel, though, or whatever it is that they use instead of silver and gold. Any pieces I should steer clear of? Thanks!

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Hi, and thank you so much for your help. I know how tight money can be in school. I, too, am allergic to nickel, among other metals like copper. Is your mom only allergic to nickel? I only use sterling silver, copper, and gold fill in my work, so theoretically, she should have no reaction. Sterling silver uses copper to make the metal hard enough to use as jewelry. It should be all right for your Mom, although if she's going to react to anything, it will be earrings, as those actually go into our bodies.

[kindness_says]

I'm not sure! She likes to say she's "allergic to cheap jewelry." :| But sterling silver earrings have been fine in the past! I did not know that about the copper; how fascinating. I learn something new every day. Thanks!

And good luck with Julius, of course. <3

[kindness_says]

Hi again -

So, I don't think I can buy your stuff for my mom and I can't really countenance it for myself? but I do want you to know that it's beautiful and if I had heaps of disposable income I'd buy ALL OF IT!! Signal boosted and throwing some more into the donation pool. <3

[eibbil-libbie.livejournal.com]

Here via imaginarycircus

I'm a dog person my whole life (and have one panting on me begging for noms right now) but at the heart of it, I'm an animal lover so I've made a donation (I don't wear earrings!) and will signal boost.

Best of luck to you, and to the kitteh.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Signal boosting is wonderful, and so are the good wishes!

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[meallanmouse.livejournal.com]

Here via tsarina.

Having just had to pay vet bills of our own (my eldest sprained something in his hind leg, but no breaks thankfully), I sympathize greatly. Have job, can afford it though it hurts, a bit. But I can nonetheless, for which I am thankful, afford to help a bit here too. :)

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. It's all of you who don't know me but are still so willing to help that seem to set off the tears. I hope yours is recovering well, and thank you again.

[manada.livejournal.com]

I had a run of very expensive bills earlier this year, one of which was unexpected surgery on my beloved dog Sophie. I truly feel for you, and Mark and Julius!

This post has given me the last push I needed to purchase a set of earrings from your store that I'd been admiring for a while.

Best wishes to you all, but especially to Julius as he recovers from this ordeal !

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you manada! As it happens, I am very afraid that surgery for our dog is also looming on the horizon. A fatty tissue lump just behind one of her legs seems to have doubled in size overnight. It doesn't seem to be troubling her at all as yet, but the sudden growth does worry me. It's gone from gold ball sized, to baseball size. But one crisis at a time. Thank you, my dear. I hope you will love your earrings!

kitty in need - signal boost

[pingback-bot.livejournal.com]

User kindness_says referenced to your post from kitty in need - signal boost (http://kindness-says.livejournal.com/28460.html) saying: [...] 's cat Julius needs dental surgery [...]

[klatubarada.livejournal.com]

Hey,here via Kristen999 my dog was recently ill and it scared me to death so all the hugs and a little donatin'to you <3

[jamie]

Here via friendsfriends and have donated. Much love to the feisty bengal - long may he terrorize the vet :)

I've got 3 rescue cats and I totally get it.

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Here via kristen999. I'm donating editing and a cover to her auction story, and a little extra to you and Julius.

I just lost my seven year old Maine Coon cross to diabetes and kidney failure. I know how it is with vet bills. Even though his condition was terminal, if I'd had the resources, he would have had more time.

Best wishes to Julius.