A couple weeks back, Milo was his usual chaotic self — knocking things off shelves, batting at shadows, ruling the house like a tiny king. Then disaster struck: he swallowed a piece of string (yes, classic cat move). It caused a dangerous blockage in his intestines. We rushed him to the emergency vet at 2 a.m., and thank goodness they got him into surgery right away. The vets removed the obstruction, but it was touch-and-go for a bit.

Now he’s home, but healing isn’t cheap or simple for a cat who thinks he’s invincible:

• Hospital stay and the surgery itself already wiped out our emergency savings
• Daily meds (pain relief, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories)
• Regular check-ups and maybe more X-rays to make sure his insides are mending properly
• Special soft food and lots of quiet time (hard with a bored Milo!)
• Possible extra treatments if any swelling or infection pops up

We’re a normal family — we work hard, love our pets like kids, but this kind of vet bill (several thousand dollars) is way beyond what we can handle alone. Milo didn’t ask for this, but he’s fighting so hard to bounce back.

Even in the cone, he tries to head-bump our hands when we reach in to pet him. His purr is quiet now, but it’s still there. That tiny rumble reminds us he’s not done yet.

If you can spare anything — even a few dollars — it would mean the world. Every bit helps cover meds, follow-ups, and the food that keeps his tummy happy while it heals.

Milo wants to chase the red dot again. He wants to nap in sunbeams without this plastic prison. With your help, he can.

From the bottom of our hearts (and Milo’s fuzzy one), thank you.