Blackjack is a 14 year old Mix-Breed in Alexandria, VA, who needs $2,000 for Radiation Therapy.

Blackjack "Jack" came into my life at 2 months old when his mom (a neighborhood stray cat) dropped him off at my neighbor's house and the rest is history almost 14 years later. As an all black cat, I wanted to name him something appropriate and a friend mentioned Blackjack and it stuck. Jack does enjoy being out on a leash to be able to see the neighborhood and eat grass.

Jack was recently diagnosed with cancer - acromegaly or a pituitary tumor on his brain - along with diabetes, kidney disease, and arthritis. His body is rejecting his second type of insulin due to the tumor and its a challenge to manage his diabetes and kidney disease since the tumor is blocking normal signals. The treatment is radiation therapy to address the tumor.

Jack is definitely a talker and consistently lets me know how he is feeling. He loves to walk on the leash even with his arthritis somewhat slowing him down at times. He is also a cuddle bug and will rub his head on your head to check you out and make sure you are ok. He tolerates his younger sisters (one feline, one human) as he is the only male in the house.

As a single mom to a human toddler and two cats, bills have piled up, especially Jack's vet bills before the acromegaly diagnosis when it was just diabetes. Jack is still very active and definitely not ready to succumb to these diseases with lots of life left.