Hello everyone,
My name is Lilia. I never imagined I would write a post like this, but after three months of searching for answers, I found this community and hoped someone here might understand what we are going through.
My cat Sashka is only three years old. She is a Devon Rex with the sweetest personality. She has always been healthy, playful and full of life.
When the war in Ukraine began, I had to leave my home and start over in Poland. I couldn't take my whole life with me, but I brought my two cats, Sashka and Vasya. They became my family, my comfort, and my connection to the life I left behind.
Now I am terrified of losing Sashka too.
About three months ago, Sashka suddenly developed severe diarrhea. At first, we hoped it was something temporary. She received treatment, medications and IV fluids, and for about two weeks she seemed to improve.
Then everything came back.
Since then, the diarrhea has almost never completely stopped. Some days are slightly better, but the problem always returns. She has been losing weight because her body is struggling to absorb the nutrients she needs. Her beautiful Devon Rex coat has become thin and patchy because of malnutrition.
She has gone from being an energetic young cat to a cat that feels heartbreakingly fragile when I pick her up.
Despite everything, she still purrs when I hold her. She still sleeps beside me and looks at me with complete trust, as if she believes I will find a way to help her.
I have attached several photos. The first photos show Sashka as she looks today after three months of illness and severe weight loss. The last two photos were taken before she became sick, when she was healthy, happy and at a normal weight. It is difficult to believe that only a few months separate these photos.
I have also attached some of her veterinary reports and invoices to show the examinations and treatment she has already received.
Over the past three months, we have followed every recommendation from our veterinarians. We did not stop after the first treatment failed. We continued searching for answers, repeated examinations, and followed every recommendation they gave us.
Sashka has had repeated blood tests, fecal examinations, abdominal ultrasounds, several veterinary consultations, IV fluid therapy, medications, probiotics and supportive treatment.
So far, I have already spent more than 1000$, and I have invoices, medical reports and receipts documenting everything we have done.
Unfortunately, despite all these examinations and treatments, we still do not have a clear diagnosis.
The specialists explained that Sashka most likely has a serious intestinal disease. At this stage, they need to determine whether this is severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), intestinal lymphoma, or another chronic intestinal condition.
The difficult part is that these conditions can look very similar at the beginning, but the treatments are completely different.
The next step is the most important one.
The specialists told me that Sashka needs an endoscopic biopsy under general anesthesia. During this procedure, the doctors will examine her digestive tract and take small tissue samples to send to the laboratory. These samples should help determine what disease we are fighting and which treatment gives Sashka the best chance.
Depending on how she recovers after the procedure, she may also need hospitalization and supportive care.
According to the estimate given by the specialists, I should prepare for approximately 1600$ for this next diagnostic stage. The final cost may vary depending on the number of tissue samples that need to be analyzed and whether Sashka requires additional care after the procedure.
Only after these results are available will the doctors finally know which treatment is the right one.
If severe IBD or another inflammatory disease is confirmed, Sashka will likely need long-term treatment, including medication, a special gastrointestinal diet, vitamin supplementation, repeated blood tests, follow-up ultrasounds and regular specialist monitoring.
The first months of treatment may cost approximately 675 - 1350$, depending on her response and the treatment she needs.
If intestinal lymphoma is diagnosed, she may need an oncology consultation, chemotherapy, supportive medication, repeated blood tests and ongoing monitoring. In that case, the costs may be significantly higher and could reach 1350 - 3250$ or even more, depending on the treatment plan and how she responds.
The biopsy is not the end of this journey.
It is the step that will finally tell us how to fight this disease.
I never hesitated to spend everything I had trying to save Sashka. I used all my savings, and when they were gone, I borrowed money because I could not imagine giving up on her.
I work full-time in Poland, but my salary is close to the local minimum wage. Most of it goes toward rent and basic living expenses. I simply cannot continue borrowing thousands of złoty when I know I will not realistically be able to repay such a large amount.
That is why, with a very heavy heart, I am writing here.
First of all, I would be incredibly grateful for advice from anyone who has experienced something similar.
Has anyone here had a cat with severe chronic diarrhea lasting for months?
Did your cat eventually turn out to have IBD, lymphoma, or another condition?
Is there anything you wish you had known before the biopsy?
Any experience, advice or even words of encouragement would mean so much to me.
If anyone would also like to help Sashka receive the diagnostics and treatment she urgently needs, I would be deeply grateful. Please do not feel any obligation — your advice and support already mean a lot to us.
If you would like to help with Sashka’s medical expenses:
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story.
