Dental disease is far more than bad breath. Left untreated, it can cause significant pain, infections, difficulty eating, and serious health complications.
This summer, several of our rescue cats needed extensive dental procedures, and the costs added up quickly.
Mikie: 12 Teeth Removed, One Beautiful Second Chance
Mikie came to us through Kane County Animal Control after a divorce left her without a home. Despite everything she'd been through, she was an absolute sweetheart who made friends everywhere she went.
Before she could find her forever family, Mikie needed dental surgery. What followed was the removal of 12 teeth.
Thankfully, she recovered beautifully and has since been adopted! Today, she's living her best life surrounded by human, feline, and canine companions.
Her happy ending is exactly why we do what we do. But even after adoption, the cost of getting her healthy remains part of our rescue's financial burden.
Momo: Seven Teeth Down, Still Full of Personality
Momo has been part of our rescue family on and off for more than seven years. As he's entered his distinguished senior gentleman era, we knew he needed dental care.
What we didn't expect was seven extractions, including his upper canine teeth!
Momo recovered wonderfully and now sports an even more impressive Elvis-style sneer. And don't worry—his appetite hasn't slowed down one bit.
Tarot: An Incredible 24 Teeth Removed
Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty-four teeth.
For perspective, an adult cat typically has just 30 permanent teeth.
Tarot arrived with her sister Juno after a new baby in their family developed severe allergies. These petite, potato-shaped sweethearts were initially shy but have blossomed in foster care.
During a routine veterinary examination, we discovered Tarot needed dental work. Once the procedure began, however, the veterinarian found that her dental disease was far more advanced than anyone anticipated. Even her jawbone had been affected.
Thankfully, Tarot made it through surgery and recovered happily in foster care.
But a procedure this extensive comes with an equally significant veterinary bill.
Aisling: Still Waiting for the Dental Care She Needs
Aisling came to us with her companion Elli after their beloved human passed away.
This petite little black cat has a squeaky voice, an enormous personality, and absolutely no respect for personal space when there's a lap available.
Unfortunately, Aisling needs dental surgery, likely including extractions.
And right now, we simply don't have the funds to schedule it.
Aisling deserves to be comfortable and pain-free. She deserves the same opportunity for healing that Mikie, Momo, and Tarot received.
Your donation could help us finally get her the care she's waiting for.
🤧 Respiratory Infections: Small Bills That Become a Big Crisis
Not every veterinary expense involves a major surgery.
Sometimes it's antibiotics. Sometimes it's diagnostic testing. Sometimes it's multiple follow-up visits for a stubborn infection that just won't go away.
Recently, Stilton, Juno, Tarot, and Lydia have all battled upper respiratory infections.
For most, supportive treatment has been enough. But Lydia's illness has been particularly difficult.
Her congestion has persisted despite treatment, and she is currently receiving medical boarding and breathing treatments at the veterinary hospital.
The good news? Lydia is slowly improving and, thankfully, still has an appetite.
The difficult news? Every additional day of medical care adds to our growing veterinary expenses.
We will continue fighting for Lydia's recovery, but we desperately need help covering her care.
🩺 The Complicated Cases: When One Diagnosis Becomes Five
Some cats arrive needing a routine examination and a little TLC.
Others apparently arrive with an entire medical chart's worth of surprises.
And while we love every single one of them, these complicated cases have placed an enormous strain on our rescue's resources.
Lacey: A Sweet Girl Who Just Can't Catch a Break
Lacey came to us last year after being abandoned just blocks from her last known home.
She's a quiet, stoic girl who has endured more than her fair share of medical challenges.
This year alone, Lacey has been dealing with:
A chicken allergy
Urinary crystals
Arthritis
Suspected gastrointestinal disease, potentially inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Managing these conditions means specialized diets, veterinary examinations, medications, diagnostic testing, and ongoing monitoring.
After plenty of ups and downs, we're hopeful that we've finally found a supportive routine that will help Lacey feel her best.
But keeping her healthy requires continued medical care—and continued financial support.
Elli: Hyperthyroidism, Allergies, and More Surprises
Elli arrived alongside Aisling after their owner passed away.
We knew she had hyperthyroidism and a chicken allergy when we welcomed her into our care.
What we didn't know was how complicated things would become.
Her thyroid medication was affected by a recent Wedgewood medication recall, leaving her feeling unwell. Thankfully, with help from Wooddale Pet Pharmacy, Elli transitioned to a new formulation and began improving.
Then came the gastrointestinal issues.
Additional veterinary visits, imaging, testing, and supportive treatment followed, with guidance from Knoll Animal Hospital. We're hopeful that Elli is heading in the right direction, although IBD remains a possible additional diagnosis.
Through it all, Elli has remained an affectionate, grateful little girl who simply wants to be loved.
And we're determined to give her the comfort and stability she deserves.
Eefer: Diabetes and Senior-Cat Challenges
Eefer and his companion Cupcake returned to our rescue after several years when their family experienced heartbreaking losses and financial hardship.
At intake, Eefer received comprehensive bloodwork, a urinalysis, vaccinations, and fecal testing.
That's when we discovered he was diabetic.
True to his stubborn personality, Eefer wasn't particularly interested in cooperating with daily blood sugar checks.
Thankfully, he responded well to Senvelgo, a liquid diabetes medication prescribed by his veterinarian.
But diabetes wasn't his only concern. Eefer also needed support for arthritis and weight management, including joint supplements and dietary adjustments.
Senior cats like Eefer deserve to be comfortable, loved, and cared for, even when their medical needs become expensive.
Cupcake: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Be Easy!
When Eefer and Cupcake returned, we thought Cupcake might be our straightforward medical case.
Cupcake had other plans.
During her intake examination, we discovered that she had both types of urinary crystals, an unusual and challenging combination.
Her care has included managing urinary discomfort, appetite issues, and periods when she needed appetite stimulants and assisted feeding.
Despite everything, Cupcake has remained incredibly sweet and affectionate.
She's even one of those rare cats whose belly is genuinely NOT a trap!
Her medical journey has been anything but simple, and every examination, medication, and specialized treatment adds to our growing expenses.
🐾 Even the "Routine" Cases Add Up
Then there are the veterinary expenses that may seem small individually but become overwhelming when multiplied across an entire rescue.
Meeko arrived in February and immediately decided to keep everyone on their toes. When we discovered a swollen paw pad and ear infections, he needed X-rays, antibiotics, a thorough ear cleaning, bloodwork, vaccinations, and fecal testing.
And because Meeko had very strong opinions about cooperating, sedation was necessary to safely complete his care.
Captain, a sweet kitten transferred from DuPage County Animal Services alongside his sister Tennille, developed an umbilical hernia as he grew.
He needed surgical repair before heading to his forever home. Thankfully, he recovered in foster care and was able to join Tennille with their new family!
And our recent arrivals from Quincy County—Asia, Rain, Allen, Alphonse, and Lydia—all needed essential intake care, including disease screening, microchipping, and fecal testing.
These aren't optional expenses. They're part of responsible rescue.
Every cat deserves appropriate medical screening, preventive care, and treatment before beginning their next chapter.
But when dozens of cats need care, even the smallest expenses add up to an enormous financial burden.
💔 We Are Running Out of Financial Breathing Room
These are just some of the medical cases we've been managing.
Behind every name is a life we're trying to improve. Behind every diagnosis is a foster family administering medications, monitoring symptoms, attending veterinary appointments, and doing everything possible to keep that cat comfortable.
And behind every treatment is a bill that our rescue must find a way to pay.
We have cats recovering from extensive surgeries. Cats requiring ongoing medications. Cats battling respiratory infections. Cats with chronic conditions. And cats, like Aisling, still waiting for care because the funds simply aren't there.
We are a volunteer-driven rescue. We don't have an endless budget, and we cannot keep absorbing these expenses without help.
Every dollar spent on medical care is a dollar we must raise through donations, fundraising events, and the generosity of people who believe these lives matter.
And right now, we need that generosity more than ever.
❤️ Please Donate. They Are Counting on Us—and We're Counting on You.
If you've ever adopted a rescue animal, fostered a cat, donated to a shelter, or simply loved an animal who needed a little extra help, you know how much these lives are worth.
We are asking our community to come together and help us continue providing lifesaving and life-changing veterinary care.
Every donation makes a difference:
$10 helps offset basic medical supplies and everyday care.
$25 contributes toward medications and supportive treatments.
$50 helps cover diagnostic testing and veterinary visits.
$100 makes a meaningful contribution toward surgeries and more extensive medical procedures.
Any amount helps us continue saying "yes" to cats who desperately need someone in their corner.
Can't donate right now? Sharing this post is another powerful way to help. The more people who hear these cats' stories, the greater our chance of getting them the care they need.
DONATE NOW — HELP OUR MEDICAL CATS
Please help us turn mounting veterinary bills into more happy endings.
🐈 They Deserve More Than Just Survival
Mikie is enjoying her forever home because she received the care she needed.
Captain and Tennille are together with their new family because Captain's hernia was repaired.
Tarot is healing. Lydia is fighting to get better. Lacey and Elli are receiving the ongoing support they need.
And Aisling is still waiting.
We want every cat in our care to have the same opportunity for a happy ending. But we cannot make that happen without you.
Please consider making a donation today. Whether it's $5, $50, or $500, your generosity helps us keep fighting for the cats who need us most.
From the bottom of our hearts—and from every whiskered face depending on us—thank you for believing that every life is worth saving.
With gratitude,
The Chicagoland Animal Rescue Volunteer Team 🐾❤️