Cheesecake Needs You

Cheesecake is a sweet, gentle and quirky 12-year-old Scottish fold cat.

She goes crazy over salmon and music.

Cheesecake is my world and I can’t imagine life without her. She has been my companion and emotional support during my best moments and most harrowing experiences, including coping with the loss of my dad and a health crisis two years ago.

She often sidles up next to me when I’m reading, working at my desk, baking in the kitchen, and playing my bass guitar/drums. Sometimes she also doubles up as a camera assistant and gets paid in salmon.

She has managed to win the hearts of folks who aren’t particularly fond of cats. A surefire way to know she adores you is if she snuggles next to you and starts kneading you while purring gently.

What happened?

On 25 June 2021, Cheesecake suddenly developed incoordination, falling to one side repeatedly. The signs appear suddenly overnight. I took her to the vet (Mount Pleasant Animal Centre), and her results for her physical examinations and blood tests were normal.

She was then referred to Mount Pleasant Hospital (Gelenggang) for further diagnostics, monitoring and MRI.

MRI results

• A tumour was found in her pituitary gland. Follow-up MRI in 4-6 months is advised as a precaution.
• MRI showed no abnormality related to her symptoms of falling and disorientation

What is the next course of action?

She needs to undergo Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test to evaluate the possibility of bilateral idiopathic peripheral vestibular syndrome or other inflammatory/infectious CNS diseases.

What are the possible causes to her condition?

Common causes include middle- and inner-ear infections, as well as tumours, especially in older cats like Cheesecake. Exposure to certain toxins or drugs can also cause symptoms that mimic feline vestibular disease.

The vast majority of cases, including Cheesecake’s case, are diagnosed as idiopathic, meaning the exact cause isn’t known.

What procedures/treatments/veterinary care has she received?

25 June - 28 June 2021

• Consultation
• Complete Blood Count
• Chem 10 Profile
• Electrolytes (Na, K & Cl)
• Blood pressure
• PW Foo
• IV Catheter Set-up
• Night care hospitalization
• Disposable materials (AE)
• Ionized Calcium (AE)
• Cat Hospital / Day JG
• Butorphanol Tertrate Inj (S)
• Propofol Induction
• Fluid Drips: 1st bottle
• Fluid Pump usage
• B Braun Smallbore Extn Set
• B Braun Ls2 Connector
• Syringe Pump Usage
• Anaesthesia
• MRI Procedure
• Gadovist 5ml
• Vet Oracle MRI / CT
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Clindamycin 25mg
• Prednisolone 5mg Tablet

What is her current treatment?

• Clindamycin 25mg (antibiotics)
  • 2 capsules twice daily for 4 weeks
• Prednisolone 5mg Tablet (steroids)
  • 1/2 tab once daily until review

What other procedures/treatment does she need?

• Review on 8 July 2021
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test
• Follow-up MRI in 4-6 months

Breakdown of her medical bills

1. $333.12 (25 June 2021)
   • Consultation
   • Complete Blood Count
   • Chem 10 Profile
   • Electrolytes (Na, K & Cl)
   • Blood pressure
   • PW Foo
2. $800.00 (25 June 2021)
   • Night Care Hospitalisation
3. $4,354.97 (28 June 2021)
   • Cat Hospital / Day JG
   • Butorphanol Tertrate Inj (S)
   • Propofol Induction
   • Fluid Drips: 1st bottle
   • Fluid Pump usage
   • B Braun Smallbore Extn Set
   • B Braun Ls2 Connector
   • Syringe Pump Usage
   • Anaesthesia
   • MRI Procedure
   • Gadovist 5ml
   • Vet Oracle MRI / CT
   • Blood pressure monitoring
   • Clindamycin 25mg
   • Prednisolone 5mg Tablet
4. $1,300 (July 2021)
   • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test
5. $4,000 (November 2021)
   • Follow-up MRI

TOTAL = $10,787

How you can help

Her medical bills will continue to pile up. She needs your help to get the evaluation and treatment she needs to live well with her condition. The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years.

We would appreciate any amount of donations you could provide to help Cheesecake continue to get the treatment she needs to live a healthy, longer and fulfilling life. Thank you so much in advance!

A Donor List will be created to recognise the charitable efforts of every compassionate supporter of the Cheesecake Fund.

Things to note

You aren’t charged any fees for backing the Cheesecake fundraising campaign.

However, GoGetFunding charges campaign owners a fee of 6.9%, which includes both the 4% platform fee and the 2.9% payment processing fee.

Feel free to follow @quinatasya on IG for updates on her journey to recovery.