Merlin is a 10-month-old Domestic Shorthair Cat in Lansing, MI, who needs $2,000 for Liver Shunt Surgery.

Merlin was my 9th foster cat, and my first foster failure. I took his photos for petfinder at the shelter, and thought about him for a week afterwards. I knew I needed to foster him, so I did! Within 24 hours of him being with me at my apartment, I knew he was mine, and I adopted him. He spent a majority of his life in a cage, and I want to give Merlin the life he deserves.

Merlin grew up with no exposure to dogs, and he started off hissing and swatting at my two Great Danes, but within a few days, he became best friends with them! He loves sleeping on the couch with all of us, cuddled in the middle of the large dogs, with a blanket wrapped around him. He's just so friendly with everyone he meets.

Merlin is the most special boy. He loves toasting himself in front of the fireplace, and sleeping under the Christmas tree. His favorite toys are spring toys, which he will chase around the house for over an hour. When. I first met him, I remember him being so dusty and covered in lint, I called him "dusty boy". He loves sleeping on my face and cuddling in my arm each night.

Merlin has an extrahepatic splenophrenic portosystemic shunt. His blood is bypassing the portal vein and not being cleaned of toxins by the liver. Because of this, he has a high levels of ammonium in his blood, which results in chronic diarrhea, ammonium urate bladder stones, and kidney stones. Merlin needs a surgery to reroute blood to his liver.

I'm a second year veterinary student at Michigan State university. I have a lot of student debt, and I am devoting my time and money to learn how to care for other people's cats and dogs. I would just like to be able to help mine.