I adopted a cat!
These past 4 months have been a whirlwind, but through it all I was happy to assist a cat rescue by fostering two cats in April and May. After those cats were adopted and taken to their new fur-ever homes, I found myself missing the company of a cute kitty. So I searched and searched and found the most perfect, medium-to-long hair, white cat – who I strongly believe is a Turkish Angora – and adopted her on May 31.
I was SO excited to go through the cat adoption, but unfortunately, Luna – yes, the adoption agency named her Luna, and I kept it, because it was perfect and meant to be – has needed to receive treatment for persistent wheezing and sneezing, along with some vomiting spells. So far, we believe she may have feline asthma. She’s had to visit the vet a few times, and I’ve done everything in my power to provide the best care for her:
- Providing her medication as prescribed by the vet
- Switching her to a high-quality, grain-free diet
- Removing all toxic plants from the home and her reach
- Switching to a low-dust, silicone-based litter
- Getting an air purifier to clear the air of allergens
- Absolutely no lighting of candles, incense, sage, or palo santo, and zero aerosols
- Cleaning my apartment daily, sometimes twice daily as she tracks litter around the apartment
- And of course all the playtime, treats, and snuggles
Luna is also not yet spayed – officially known as a Queen – and has gone into heat twice, requiring a LOT of patience as she desperately tries to find a tomcat, and takes out her stress by biting metal and plastic around the house.
Through it all, while she has shown some improvement, I still observe these telltales signs of respiratory distress in the poor kitty.
Has my anxiety and stress related to her health shot up? Yes.
Have I lost my patience with her? Sometimes.
Have I had moments where I just wanted to give up? At times, yes.
Do I absolutely adore this cat, and wish I could take away all her pain? ABSOLUTELY.
Pet owners know that vet bills can be hefty, especially since pet insurance does not cover preexisting conditions (yup, pets are not immune to these insurance policy tricks.) Fortunately, the adoption agency, K9Kastle, has supported me along the way by checking up on Luna and, most recently, creating a fundraiser to assist me with her vet bills. It is incredibly generous, and I’m so grateful to get any help as I work with her vet to get her healthy.
I know it’s a tough time – many have lost their jobs, we are all going through the collective trauma of the pandemic and quarantine, and all the while trying to hold it together while maintaining a household. If you are in the position to give, it is extremely appreciated and goes a long way in getting the best care for Luna. Click here to donate to the fundraiser for Luna’s health, and thank you for supporting me through Luna’s journey to health!