Rufous is a 19-year-old Cream Point Domestic Shorthair in Sunnyvale, CA, who needs $2,000 for Pancreatitis.

Rufous and his littermate, Bruno, came into my life after 4 months after my beloved Misty died of cancer at age 18 years old. From the get-go he was my late partner, Jeff's, cat. When I first brought Rufous and his littermate, Bruno, home as tiny kittens, the first thing Rufous did upon being released from the carrier was to figure out how to make his way to be able to sit on Jeff’s lap.

Rufous used to follow Jeff around the apartment. I would always know when Jeff was about to pull up into the driveway because Rufous would run to the door. Jeff used to call him “My little buddy, Rufous.” Rufous never greeted me at the door until after Jeff died. When Jeff died Rufous insisted on sleeping on top of me for two years as if he was trying to prevent me from dying too.

I currently work for the County as a temp scheduling people for COVID-19 vaccines and tests. My job is ending 06/21. I will be on unemployment and the extra benefits are supposed to end 09/06. I have been helping save people's lives, but I can’t afford to save my cat.

This was an emergency situation that will require more long-term care. Even though he's in great shape for a cat that is almost 19, Rufous' kidneys aren't functioning like a young cat. He had an attack of pancreatitis due to his digestive system not getting the fluids it needs to function because his kidneys don't concentrate his urine any more. He will need to be on Subcutaneous fluids.

Rufous is a talker. Sometimes he meows whole sentences. He is a curious cat and always wants to see what is going on. When the landlord renovated the bathroom Rufous decided to explore and got himself caught in the crawl space. I had to go into the crawlspace to rescue him. Rufous has a toy that he loves. He even managed to sneak it into his carrier when he went to have his teeth cleaned.