In early December 2025, I started noticing that Ziggy would wobble while walking and sometimes lose her balance. She began falling from counters, chairs, or even while simply standing. Around the same time, I noticed dark speckles inside her left ear. I took her to our local vet, where they cleaned her ear, did a swab, and sent us home with ear drops. We saw some improvement at first, but a few weeks later the wobbling returned and her ear seemed more irritated.

We went back to the vet again. More treatment, more ear drops. It helped temporarily, but then her ear began bleeding from how much she was scratching it. On our third visit, the medication was changed, but it actually made things worse and her ear began producing thick discharge. Concerned, I took Ziggy to another clinic for a second opinion. That is when the veterinarian discovered that Ziggy’s left eye is paralyzed and she cannot blink or fully close it. This raised serious concerns about a possible neurological condition. Best case scenario, a severe deep ear infection is putting pressure on her brain. Worst case, it could be something like a tumor.

After four vet visits in just a few months, I have already spent thousands of dollars on exams and treatments. The next step is seeing a neurologist and getting an MRI, which will cost several thousand more dollars, not including whatever treatment may follow. Ziggy will also need additional testing to understand why she continues to lose weight even though she is eating a healthy diet. This part is especially scary because it suggests there may be more going on with her health.

I rescued Ziggy from a shelter in 2016 when she was about one year old, and she has been my inseparable companion ever since. She sleeps with me every night, usually cuddled under the blanket, and she loves sitting on my lap and napping whenever she gets the chance. When I say we are glued together, I truly mean it.

For the past ten years, Ziggy has been my most constant companion. For five years after my parents relocated out of state, and throughout the isolation of the 2020 lockdown, she was always by my side.

Ziggy is one of the sweetest cats you will ever meet. She is unbelievably cute and friendly with everyone she encounters. She loves being held and cuddled and has the gentlest personality. Her favorite treats are Churu, and the only time she ever yells is when she thinks breakfast is late. She truly is the perfect cat.

I am currently a full-time student graduating in May, and between tuition, student debt, and everyday expenses, the cost of advanced neurological testing and treatment is extremely overwhelming.

Your support will help Ziggy get the MRI, neurologist evaluation, and additional medical testing she needs so we can finally understand what is happening and give her the best chance at recovery. Any contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to answers and to helping Ziggy feel like herself again.

If you are able to donate, share, or support this campaign, you would truly be helping give my sweet girl a chance to heal.