Boots is a 9-year-old Tuxedo in Oswego, IL, who needs $1,500 for surgery and dental extractions.

We adopted two rescue cats from Paws in Chicago nine years ago. Both were 4 and 5 months old yet had already been abused. Our cat Boots, who is needing the surgery didn't even meow or play with a toy until she was 6 years old. It's very sad really. She is still afraid of her own shadow with high anxiety she's had her whole life. We can pick her up now but she still hates and will run and hide.

Boots either sleeps on the couch or on my pillow above my head. She has been the less dominant of the other cats which makes me feel bad or even worse that she is in pain. She likes to knead all of our pillows on the couch to fluff them up :) She likes to play with string or a red light. She has moments of happiness and love that we all appreciate.

Boots is part of our family. It breaks my heart right now to know that even after trying so hard for her to feel loved, she is the one in pain. Honestly, our favorite thing about Boots is watching her fluff our pillows. She is so funny and serious when she does this like it's her actual job to do this every single day.

She may need 10 teeth or a full extraction. Without this surgery she would have to be put down because we can't let our baby live in pain. We do NOT want this option. The surgery estimate is anywhere from $1500-$2500 and they won't know until the day of where they do x-rays. Her pain meds are also $72 every 5 days.

We had to move unexpectedly October 1st since our landlord sold the home, then the car needed repairs & still does, I'm still looking for a job around the Ph.D. I accomplished during the pandemic. Cards are maxed & we're broke. I'm a single mom & this breaks my heart.