Despite her lithe frame and atypical appearance, Nessie the Sphynx is a huge part of Amy’s family. 

“My children are asthmatic, which is why we got a hairless cat,” she says. “I think of her as our emotional support animal. Certainly she’s my little therapist and she’s my daughter’s best friend – they’re totally inseparable.” 

Fur-free and wrinkly, the Sphynx’s unique characteristics mean they’re prone to health issues including heatstroke, eye infections and skin conditions. Nessie had managed to avoid all of these for the majority of her eight years. 

“Apart from her vaccinations as a kitten, she’d never set foot in a vet clinic,” Amy says.  

Instead, Nessie was used to nursing homes and schools. “I work in the child safety space, so she’d come with me to work with troubled children,” Amy says.  

“She loves going in the car, she rides in the front seat. A very sociable cat.” 

Nessie’s communal spirit backfired the day Amy’s daughter got a new hairbrush. 

“Nessie loves to rub herself up against shoes, socks and brushes,” Amy says. “When my daughter got the hairbrush, Nessie rubbed herself on it for four days straight.” 

As much as she may have loved the feeling, the hairbrush was too harsh for Nessie’s exposed skin. “She broke a capillary vein in her ear which caused a haematoma. I was a vet tech [nurse] for 16 years and when I was touching her ear in the morning, I recognised it immediately.”

Amy found the prospect of a vet visit for her beloved cat upsetting. 

“I knew it was going to mean surgery, and I knew it was going to mean money. There were many stress factors. My daughter was beside herself.” 

After an initial local vet visit proved disappointing, Amy began calling around for financial help. 

“I called my real estate agent to ask for a week off paying rent. My children pitched in $50 each from their pocket money. My mum sent me $100. It was tough.” 

In the end, the call she made to Spreyton Veterinary Services changed Amy’s situation completely. 

“Straight away over the phone, the receptionist asked if I knew about PetSafetyNet.” 

PetSafetyNet is a collaborative initiative co-designed by PetSure, VetPartners and VetChat to provide more equitable access to veterinary care for eligible pet carers experiencing hardship. It starts with a free 24-hour vet telehealth call.   

“It was the easiest thing,” Amy says. “I went to the website and within two minutes I was connected to a vet via a video call. She was absolutely amazing.” 

The telehealth vet assessed Nessie over the call and arranged an appointment for surgery at Spreyton for the following day. 

“I remember saying to her, “Can you explain to me how all this works?” I couldn’t get over it.” 

Currently available in Tasmania and select areas of NSW, including the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter regions and Port Macquarie, PetSafetyNet is complemented with subsidised urgent in-clinic care in many cases, which can make all the difference in a critical situation. 

The next day, Nessie underwent surgery for her aural haematoma. During her visit, it was discovered that Nessie also suffered from a grade-3 heart murmur, a common health condition in the Sphynx breed. Despite her financial relief, the surgery still carried a weight of worry for Amy. 

“Nessie’s heart was now a risk factor in the surgery, and there was the chance the surgery may not be effective.” 

Ultimately, the surgery was a success in more ways than one. Nessie got to go home to her loving family, and the vet bill was significantly mitigated by PetSafetyNet. 

“I think I stood there crying. I don’t know what I would have done without it. I hate to say it out loud, but the thought of euthanasia was an option I had to consider because I didn’t have the full amount. For that reason alone I’m so grateful for PetSafetyNet.” 

And apart from an ear that looks a bit worse for wear, Amy says Nessie is home and back to normal, aside from a distinct lack of hairbrushes in her life. 

“She just looks a little bit more unique than usual.”