We call him "our Ted"

and after over four years of looking after him (and checking he's not chipped), we both feel we've earned the right to consider him our lovely little cat. Ted turned up in our garden one sunny morning in March 2016 and it's fair to say it was love at first sight. For us at least. For Ted it was probably the food and chin strokes that swung it!

As the winter closed in, we fashioned him a makeshift house from some old drawers and added some bedding. He stayed with us through the cold and dark nights, returning for a dry sleep each night. The drawers were affected by the rain and temperature changes and eventually warped until not fit for purpose. We bought him a proper cat house. Yes we were very fond of him. And we think he also loved us a bit.

And so here we are in June 2020. Ted's still with us but he has suffered in the last two weeks. We noticed one day that his right eye was closed and a bit "weepy." It looked like conjunctivitis so we booked him at the vet. He needed attention and even though he isn't insured, we had to get him assessed. The vet diagnosed a corneal ulcer and prescribed medicated drops. Over the first few days his eye seemed to be improving. This changed yesterday. We noticed a heavy discharge and on trying to inspect his eye, Ted recoiled in pain. I managed to get a glimpse and it looked bad. We took him back to the vet this morning and received the awful news that his eye has deteriorated to the point of rupture and the only viable way forward is enucleation. Removal of his right eye. In the meantime, the vet has prescribed an analgesic to reduce pain and inflammation.

The rehabilitation post-op is to keep him indoors for ten days. Given he is a full-on outdoor cat, this is going to be very difficult to manage. Our indoor cat, Button, makes the logistics even harder. But we will make the time and put in the effort get him through a confined recovery.

Where we are really struggling is with the quoted cost for treatment. One thousand pounds. Blood tests, surgery under general anaesthetic and post-op med's / dressings etc..

We can't bear to have Ted put to sleep. To lose the whole of him just because of one eye is just unthinkable. But in the current situation, with me the only person in work we will struggle to afford the treatment. Of course I can sell some of my stuff but we need to move quickly. And this is why I opened up this Just Giving page. If we can raise at least half the cost of the operation, it will help us very much and ensure Ted can keep living with us, even if it is with just one of his beautiful eyes.

Whatever you can afford to donate will be very deeply appreciated by me and Marina. And although he won't understand, Ted will benefit too. Thank you so much, in advance, for any amount you can give to this cause.

Neil & Marina