Diane and Miko are two of the tiniest, most resilient residents at our cat rescue, The Feline Connection. Recently, after noticing some worrying symptoms, we took them to see a veterinary cardiologist at Upstate Veterinary Specialties. The news was heartbreaking: 11-week-old Diane needs immediate heart surgery to survive, and 7-month-old Miko’s heart condition is inoperable. While Diane’s surgery offers hope for a long, healthy life, Miko will need expensive, life-sustaining medication for the rest of his days.
When our The Feline Connection’s board saw the estimate for Diane’s surgery, we didn’t hesitate. We committed the very last of our reserve funds to her care—because that’s just how we roll. But this decision has left our safety net empty. Now, we urgently need to replenish our reserves so we can pay for Diane’s procedure and ensure Miko has the medication he needs to thrive. Every day, these kittens remind us why we do this work, and we’re determined to give them the best chance possible.
Current needs:
—Little Diane’s Surgery estimate is $6068 with the amazing %15 discount from Upstate Veterinary Specialties. Complications may increase the cost. (details at bottom of page)
—Miko and Diane’s appointments came to $1500 yesterday.
—Miko’s preliminary medication is about $60 a month, which adds up quickly. We will provide more details on the cost of his ongoing care as we learn more.
Details on the kittens:
DIANE: Diane’s mom, Lucille, was a stray and came into The Feline Connection’s foster care program just in time, having her two kittens the next day. Diane needs a life-saving procedure ASAP, or she will not live much longer. Baby Diane has a very large PDA* (patent ductus arteriosus). She is already in heart failure and is taking a diuretic for treatment. If she does not have surgery, she will not live long. She will be 11 weeks old tomorrow (January 24, 2026), and she weighs just over a pound—she is tiny for her age. Although the surgery is very risky, we have no choice. She will definitely die without it.
Her surgery is scheduled for February 3, 2026. Maria asked if she would make it that long, and the doctor said, “I hope so, and please contact us if she gets worse.” While Diane was at the clinic, everyone fell in love with her, with five technicians heatedly discussing which one of them was going to adopt her!
MIKO: Our vets discovered that Miko had a substantial heart murmur, and the Cardiologist diagnosed Miko’s heart conditions as VSD ** (ventricular septal defect). This defect is inoperable, but it is not as serious as Diane’s, thankfully. The hole is bigger than the vet hoped at 4 mm, and it will not close on its own. Miko’s prognosis is fair, and since he is not showing any labored breathing now— a good sign. He will hopefully go on to live a full and healthy life, without going into heart failure, as long as he is monitored and receives heart meds. The hole between the ventricles is inside the heart, so fixing it would involve open-heart surgery, which is not possible on a cat. However, Miko will need to be on expensive heart meds for the rest of his life. Miko was only seven months old on January 18, 2026.
We’ve put everything we have into saving these two hearts—now we need you. Every donation helps us cover Diane’s surgery and Miko’s medical care. Please chip in today to help us refill our reserves and give these two kittens the wonderful, full lives they deserve! Your support means the world to us, and to Diane and Miko.
For more information on these two conditions, please visit Cornell University’s Feline Health Center.
THANK YOU!!
