This is Ozzie.

Ozzie was diagnosed with diabetes in the summer of 2021.

I adopted Ozzie when he was 3mo from a local shelter in 2009, and I’m so glad that I found him. He’s the funniest, dumbest, greediest, cutest, friendliest, most affectionate cat I’ve ever had. He’s an absolute sweetheart and is loved by everyone who meets him, which suits him just fine since he loves the attention.

Since before his diagnosis, Ozzie had been displaying many of the symptoms - dehydration, excessive urination, decreased energy, neuropathy, etc - for a couple of months. I couldn’t afford to get him seen by the vet any sooner than I did.

It’s never been a question of giving him up just because he’s special needs now, unless it would be better for him and his health. I’d been giving him insulin twice a day for months without improvement. A few weeks ago (as of this writing), he took a dramatic downturn but I had no choice but to go to work. I couldn’t take him to the emergency vet until after my shift. I was told that I should talk to my regular vet ASAP about possible underlying conditions that might have been preventing the insulin from helping him all of these months, but if his quality of life continues to be terrible, I should consider that It’s Time.

Thankfully, the cat specialized vet I take him to found an underlying condition after all - pancreatitis - and we successfully treated it with a course of antibiotics and other medicines. His pancreas levels are normal so the insulin is finally doing its job. Ozzie is more like his old self. The only obstacle is the neuropathy. He can’t walk or stand for very long yet, so he has to use pee pads instead of the litter box. I also switched him (and my other cat, Bug) to a pure protein diet; removing carbs to further improve his condition, if possible.

All of these things - emergency vet, vet, regular insulin, special diet, pee pads - are all incredibly expensive. Insulin is $150 a vial, which lasts 2mo; syringe and disposal bin is about $50. I don’t know where the receipts/invoices are, but the emergency vet visit was about $500, while the regular vet visit immediately after with all of the testing, ultrasound, and medicines was about $400.

Here are the receipts for his everyday expenses:

On the right is the receipt for 3 large packs of pee pads, which will last me about a month or less (I change his pee pads twice a day). $105.
4 bags of dry Kiwi Kitchens food, with a “buy 3 get 1 free” policy, which will last about 3wks or so. $144.
Total after tax: $273.

On the left is the receipt for 4 bags of dry Kiwi Kitchens food, 16 cans of Kiwi Kitchens wet food, and one holiday pack of Kiwi Kitchens treats.
As before, 4 bags of dry Kiwi Kitchens food, with a “buy 3 get 1 free” policy, which will last about 3wks or so. $144.
16 cans of Kiwi Kitchens wet food, which will also last only about 3wks. Including bulk buying discount: $30.
(The holiday treats were $13, but that’s my choice and my gift to them. Not an expense.)
Total after tax: $208.

I need to get a receipt from the next vet visit, but each diabetic check-up (once a month or every two) is also about $200.

Yes, I have Care Credit. But with the cost of the vet visits and their frequency, that specialized credit is quickly running out.

This is not financially sustainable for me at this time. It’s too much money too frequently, even (especially?) with my job, which only guarantees me 24hrs a week at $15.50/hr. That number is ramping up for the holidays, but you’d better believe it’ll drop again come January.

Any purchase you make will go to helping me take care of Ozzie. He deserves the best care that I can give him, and I want to give him everything that I can. Please help me to do that. Thank you.

Have some more pictures of the adorable little idiot!