"My heart completely sank": woman fights to raise thousands to fund cat's surgery
Max the cat needs lifesaving surgery but it will cost thousands of pounds
A woman is trying to raise thousands of pounds to save her beloved cat, Max, who needs specialist surgery to stay alive.
Six-year-old Max has suffered repeated life-threatening urinary blockages and has been admitted to emergency vets several times in the last few weeks.
The PDSA have now referred his owner, Shannon Devenney-Reid, to a private veterinary hospital as Max now urgently needs specialist surgery to give him the best chance.
“Hearing that Max needed specialist surgery was heart-breaking,” said Mrs Devenney-Reid.
“When we were first told the surgery could cost up to £4,000, my heart completely sank. It was a figure we simply couldn't imagine being able to afford,” she said.
“We were told that if Max continued to suffer repeated blockages and the surgery wasn't possible, the alternative would be euthanasia.”
However, she could not accept losing her cat “without doing everything” she could to help him, and has been “exploring every possible option”.
Mrs Devenney-Reid has had Max since he was a kitten, taking him home in 2020.
“When we first collected him, we were told he was an eight week old female, so we named "her" Belle,” she said. “At his first vet appointment, we discovered he was actually a little boy and was likely only around six weeks old when we brought him home. So, Belle quickly became Max!”
“He's grown into such a loving, affectionate cat who adores cuddles and loves laying on our chest and snuggling into our necks whenever he gets the chance.”
She launched a GoFundMe page to raise money towards Max’s surgery and has raised nearly £350 in the past 5 days.
“The response has honestly been overwhelming,” she said. “Complete strangers have donated, shared the fundraiser and sent us lovely messages of support.”
The charity Friends of the Animals have offered £400 towards Max’s surgery, and a veterinary practice in Fareham has offered to do the surgery for a reduced cost of £2,500, rather than the £4,000 Ms Devenney-Reid was previously quoted.
“Every donation, share and kind message has given us hope when we've really needed it. The kindness of complete strangers has restored our faith in people,” she said.
You can support Max’s GoFundMe page here.