Friend Owes Me $4000

long story short, had a friend who was struggling mentally and without a job. paid for their rent once ($1000) and then a while later, their cat had emergency medical bills that i also paid for because they had no money ($3000)

i have text proof of this friend stating they are working on paying me back, or are going to start. they have now cut me off and i haven’t received even a dollar from them EVER and it’s been almost 2 years since the i initially gave them rent money.

i’m wondering if its worth or even possible to try and take them to small claims because the $1000 i sent to their roommate, not them. and the $3000 vet bills i paid straight up because i went to the vet with her.

she also no longer owns the cat as she abandoned it with her ex, and it now belongs to him. but despite leaving it with him for over a year, she tries to get the cat back now and then (he refuses because he’s taken care of the cat financially over a year now) and i’m concerned that taking this to court could cause issues for their ex.

but i want my money back and they have blocked me on everything, but i am close with their family still. just curious if theres anything i can do.