Shadow is a 15-year-old American Shorthair/Mix Cat in Niagara Falls, NY, who needs $2,000 for Diagnosis and Treatment.

I got Shadow when I was ten or eleven years old. He has grown up with me in three different houses. At his advanced age he is starting to experience difficulty breathing and becoming more and more lethargic. I'm afraid his time is near, and I am left with very few painful choices. Let him pass away or come up with a large amount of money to for tests.

Shadow is a huge part of our family. He has always been there for cuddles and companionship. But lately, his body has been failing him. And he has been unable to move around freely as much or groom himself like he used to. It is very painful to watch him progress closer and closer to death, and am just hoping I can do something for him. Whether it doing what's best, or taking care of him.

Shadow is a very special cat. He is always there when he senses you are not feeling well. He paws at you until you pet him and he starts to purr. He makes a bad situation that much better, and unfortunately, he is facing a very bad situation himself. I am unable to support my living situation and taking care of him. It is destroying me inside, because he is one of my best friends, and I'm failing.

Shadow has been experiencing breathing problems lately, wheezing and making very weird noises from his throat. He has been very lethargic, and lost a SIGNIFICANT amount of weight. He is still eating and drinking water, but a lot less than he used to. I am absolutely at a loss of what to do. I understand as cats age they slowly die, but I feel like if there's ANYTHING I can do I want to do it.

My family is bottom middle class. All three household members work PART-TIME JOBS. Rent is over $1000 a month, and we have a 12 year old kid to take care of as well. Things are really tight, we try to hide it, sometimes not so well (power has been off a few times).