Help Margherita get Life-Saving Surgery!

Help Save Margherita’s Life: A Tiny Kitten’s Fight Against a Rare Heart Condition

Margherita was rescued on August 6th from the streets of Allentown in the City of Pittsburgh just before heavy storms rolled in. The kind person who had been feeding her and her siblings noticed that she frequently vomited. Once we brought her into foster, we knew something was not right. We had hoped it was a simple GI issue, but when the constant regurgitation continued despite dewormer, we began to realize the severity of the situation. 

Her recent visit to Rivers Veterinary Clinic on Saturday, August 10th revealed a rare and serious condition: a vascular ring anomaly, specifically PRAA (persistent fourth right aortic arch). This congenital disorder of the aorta compresses her esophagus, causing painful regurgitation. Unfortunately, if left untreated, Margherita will face a slow and painful death due to malnutrition.

But there is hope! With specialized surgery performed by the soft tissue department at Ohio State University Veterinary Clinic, Margherita can overcome this condition. This surgery, though expensive, offers her a chance at a healthy and happy life. While she may require special care for the rest of her life, most cats who undergo this surgery have a good long-term prognosis.

Marg’s consultation with OSU on August 20 was $160, but we’ve now received the full cost estimate for her surgery, which is between $4,153.75 and $6,446.25—much higher than we initially expected. Because Margherita deserves the best care, we've adjusted our fundraiser goal to $6,000 to cover these expenses.

On October 15, Marg will return for sedation, a CT scan, and additional X-rays to pinpoint the exact vascular anomaly she has and determine the best surgical approach. Her corrective surgery is scheduled for October 16, after which she'll need to stay at OSU for 1-2 days to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Margherita is an incredibly loving and playful kitten who deserves every chance at a full life. She spends her days doing all the normal kitten things, including kneading lots of biscuits. We know in our hearts that she deserves this opportunity to thrive, and we don’t want to give up on her due to a lack of funds.

We are humbly asking for your support. If you have ever considered donating before, we urge you to let it be now. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in Margherita’s life. Please help us give little Margherita the life she deserves.

Thank you to our community for your constant generosity and support as we navigate these incredibly rare situations. Together, we can make a save Margherita’s life!