Pica

About the Campaign

Pica is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair with a mass growing inside his cheek, near the back of his mouth. It has grown to about the size of a marble, and the vet says it needs to be removed and sent out for testing to determine whether it is benign or something more serious.

Ichollie adopted Pica from a local shelter on August 3rd. He had already been transferred from another overcrowded shelter and was missing one eye, which made it harder for him to get adopted. But Ichollie and her daughters saw past that immediately. They thought he looked like a little pirate, and more importantly, he was sweet, gentle, cuddly, and clearly just wanted to be loved.

The mass was not discovered until Pica’s first post-adoption checkup on August 21st. The vet opened his mouth to check his gums, and the mass popped into view. At first it looked like it might be an abscess, but it was hard, and both the shelter-provided VCA visit and Ichollie’s own vet confirmed it needs surgical removal. Ichollie had noticed Pica acting strange after eating, and later realized food may have been getting caught behind the mass.

Pica came into the family shortly after they lost their beloved cat, Coraline, who had been with them for 15 years. That loss was hard on Ichollie and her daughters, AJ and Coco. After waiting and talking it through, they decided they wanted to give love to another cat who needed a home. Pica was exactly that cat.

Ichollie is a single mother who works remotely in customer service and dispatch. She spent about $2,500 on Coraline’s care before losing her, which used up her savings, and she has already leaned on credit, payment plans, and payday loans just to stay above water.

Ichollie does not want her financial situation to be the reason Pica goes without care. Donations will help cover Pica’s bloodwork, anesthesia testing, mass removal, biopsy, medications, and follow-up care so this sweet young cat can get the surgery he needs and the fresh start he deserves. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Estimate is below, click to enlarge: