Lizzi's desperate online appeal to save beloved cat

A HEREFORDSHIRE woman has launched a desperate online appeal for funds to treat her ill cat.

Lizzi Armstrong, 28, says her beloved pet, named Gus, is running out of time as he battles a frustrating bladder condition.

So she is seeking thousands of pounds through a charity giving website to pay for the medical treatment he needs.

Ms Armstrong, who lives in Pencombe with her partner, Dan, has posted a touching appeal for help in her own words:

"Gus was found straying between cars in Birmingham when he was just a few weeks old, and when he was picked up he was found to have herpes and chlamydia, which he caught from his stray mother during birth.

Lizzie Armstrong, her partner, Dan, with their cats Gus and Dougal before Gus became unwell

"I was lucky enough to take on this poorly boy and his healthy brother, Dougal. I didn’t expect the bond between me and these boys to become so deep so quickly, but they captured a large piece of my heart and are firmly holding onto it.

"Sixteen days ago, Gus wasn’t himself. We took him to our brilliant vets where they established he had a urinary blockage and his bladder had swelled enormously so the urine couldn’t escape.

"They rushed him into surgery to no avail, they couldn’t get a catheter in him to drain the blockage [so he was referred to a veternary hospital].

"We drove Gus down to Somerset immediately and he soon went into surgery, where they managed to place a catheter to start draining him.

Lizzie Armstrong's beloved cats Gus and Dougal, pictured before Gus became unwell

"Later, an external catheter was inserted through his abdomen, and the amazing team have been draining it every six, eight and 12 hours since.

"But we are running out of time. If Gus doesn’t manage to wee on his own then he will be put forward for a truly invasive amputation surgery to remove his penis to widen his urethra hole.

"This is the absolute worst-case scenario that we have spent the last 17 days trying to avoid. But if it comes to it and it won’t cause him any suffering then we will need to find the additional £3,500 for the surgery.

"We have spent £1,135 at our own vets. Gus’s insurance limit per condition is £1,000, so that has covered one night out of 17.

"So far the bill is just short of £5,000, which we will need to find ourselves.

"I am chronically ill and largely housebound due to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), and had to stop my business in 2017.

"I volunteer online to help Romanian street dogs find safe homes in the UK because I am so passionate about animals living out their long lives.

"My other half, Dan, is in his second year of a Business Management degree as a mature student, so has no earnings coming in and is looking after me with my reduced mobility.

"There is no family to help us with a loan; we are completely on our own with this. And my goodness do we feel alone.

"I am shamelessly begging and asking for any support to help pay for the treatment our sweet boy needs. Anything you can give will help. Thank you so much from my family to yours. With your help I can hold my little boy, Gus, again."

• Ms Armstrong's charity giving plea is here.