Help Save Hero, the Kitten Who Found Us When We Needed Him Most

Three and a half years ago, our oldest daughter, Abby, passed away from brain cancer, a couple weeks later a tiny visitor showed up at our back door. On the 4th of July, my husband stepped outside, heard meowing, and found a very skinny grey tabby kitten. The moment our girls saw him, they fell in love. During a very hard season of our lives, he gave them something to smile about, so we named him Hero.

In the three years since, Hero has more than lived up to his name. He’s adventurous and shockingly smart. He opens doors, turns off lights, and knocks his treat container off the counter until the lid pops off. Most of all, he’s a lover, always there to curl up with the girls when they need comfort.

This spring we noticed Hero wasn't eating well and was losing weight particularly his muscles. Over the past several months we've taken him to five different vets. He had blood work to check for diabetes, kidney tests and heart tests, an ultrasound, and needle biopsies to look for cancer. Finally, a vet in Appleton gave us an answer: neurological FIP (feline infectious peritonitis).

For years, FIP was almost always fatal. The good news is that a treatment became available just two years ago, so Hero has a chance. The hard part is that the medication for the neurological form of FIP is very expensive, and he needs regular monitoring throughout his treatment. All of this comes on top of the large bills we’ve already paid for months of testing.

With one of us back in school and our family living on a single income, we’re struggling to cover the cost of his treatment and appointments.

Anything you can give, even a few dollars, would mean the world to our girls. Hero was there for them when they needed him most, and now we want to be there for him. Sharing this page helps too.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 😺