Shadow is a 9-month-old American Short Hair/Egyptian Mao Mix Cat in Ravena, NY, who needs $2,000 for Caudal Stomatitis with Possible Dental Extractions.

In 2014, we'd just returned from taking our gown children/Grandchildren on vacation. When we returned, we suddenly realized how empty our home felt. We went to a local PetSmart store, offering kittens from the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society for adoption. We had planned on adopted a female of the 4 being offered, when the lone male kitten crawled into my arms, and into my heart... falling fast asleep

Little did we realize how sick our new 10 week old kitten was positive for FHV, Calici, Corona viruses and toxoplasmosis. His first few months were expensive, but he was worth every penny. We immediately saw how loving & intelligent he was, able to communicate with us using understandable words to let us know what he wanted (Heh-woe = hello, War-er = water, when he wanted a drink etc.). So smart!

He got his name because he immediately bonded with my husband, &, like his Shadow, he followed him wherever he went. He immediately recognized his own name & made us laugh the first time we called for him to come. He asked "What" plain as day, then "No" Of the 12 words he actually learned to say the one that touched us deepest was "Home", said looking for one of us to come home when had gone out.

Shadow was diagnosed with caudal stomatitis which caused deep open lesions at the rear of his jaw & down his throat, making it impossible to eat, drink or talk. After no food or water for 4 days we took him to Upstate Veterinary Hospital where he was admitted for tests & put on steroids, antibiotics, gabapentin & morphine for pain. It's been 4 weeks with no assurance it will ever heal permanently.

Shadow's vet bills are now over $6,000 which we have paid by Credit Card. We're an elderly, couple in our 70's taking care of 6 indoor-only cats, as well as up to 14 area strays, whose food and shelter cost us over $200 a month. We are on Social Security and a small pension.