Hello, please meet Jemima, she is now 9 months old. She was found a couple of months ago, in Redbridge. Discovered in a front garden, starving and with her leg caught through her collar. She was not microchipped and as no owner came forward, she had a full vet check, was spayed and treated for fleas and worms. Jemima was then placed in a foster home to await rehoming. She quickly settled and is a very playful, lovable kitten cat. There was much interest in adopting her. Initially she suffered a slight upset tummy, which is common with stray cats who have been hunting and scavenging for food. This settled but has recently re-occurred prompting the need for further veterinary investigation.

A fecal sample was sent to a veterinary laboratory for testing. This has revealed several bacterial and viral infections for which she needs treatment. The infections are linked to the consumption of dirty water and rotting food, which she would have been eating while on the streets. These health issues have now halted her adoption process. Poor Jemima, while outwardly still lively, loveable and playful remains in foster care, on medication.

At this point I should explain my involvement. My name is Sue and I have been involved in cat rescue in East London for almost 30 years. As an independent cat rescuer, not affiliated with any charity, I receive calls from the public to help with stray, abandoned and injured cats. Whenever I am able to assist, these cats become my responsibility for the duration of their fostering. This includes payment for all their veterinary treatment. My rescue work is purely voluntary for which I receive no funding. All the work I do is paid out of my own pocket and occasional donations from members of the public and through homing strays.

Jemima’s initial needs seemed straightforward and she was spayed at my local Goddard’s Veterinary clinic in Ilford. The fecal tests however are conducted by a veterinary laboratory and are very costly. The costs of the initial tests are £202 and currently her medication brings the total to almost £250. She may need further tests to confirm the infections have been cleared. This totally unexpected cost comes on top of what I would normally expect to pay for her neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and flea and worm control. I am liable for this cost which I cannot afford to pay and currently precludes me from rescuing and supporting any further cats.

I am appealing for your help to enable me to pay this current bill which in turn will allow me to continue my rescue work. Once she has made a full recovery, which I am very sure she will, the next step will be to find Jemima a loving, fur-ever home. She surely deserves this having been a totally domestic cat and left to live on the streets at only 7 months old!

UPDATE - She is doing really well and the infections seem to be clearing. She has finished her initial treatment on Saturday. The vet would like to carry out one further test on Friday. This test will cost £75. After this we hope she will be ready for a fur-ever home. She is incredibly affectionate and runs around "like a cricket" according to her foster home. Many thanks to all those who have already donated towards this appeal. I am incredibly grateful. Merry Christmas!

If you wish to check the validity of this cause, please feel free to ring Goddard’s Veterinary Clinic, Ley Street, Ilford, 0208 478 2122. They can confirm that I am involved in local cat rescue and am responsible for Jemima. I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this and also give thanks to the person who found her, her fosterer and for the dedication of my vet.