Adorable Cat Needs Your Help!

[Shadowknight]

Bump - Cat's back! See original post for general update.

 

[KeithTalent]

Great stuff! Glad to hear she's doing ok and thanks for the update!

Definitely want pics of kitty!

Cheers,
KT

 

[Linflas]

I hope you are going to keep her now and make her an indoor cat. She kind of deserves that after that kind of trauma. I'm glad to hear it all went well.

 

[Shadowknight]

:| Uh, despite having them take pics at 10AM today, and asking them a couple of times to e-mail the post-op pics, the vet still hasn't done it. Urg.

I'll give them another call tomorrow. In the meantime I'll go to the library and try a DIFFERENT A: disk that hopefully, this time, will let me install the RAID drivers. Blarg.

In the meantime, keep those donations coming! Either directly to the vet, or in the paypal e-mail address above. The remaining balance is due by the 15th of next month. Only $325 to go and it's all taken care of!

 

[Boris Morozov]

that kitty is so cutE! ^.^ are you keeping it??

 

[Shadowknight]

Probably not, but then again, this is loving kitten season. The only way I'd adopt a cat out is through an agency. I doubt I can get cage space at either the Lincoln Humane Society or Lady Furball, and there are AT LEAST twenty kittens, if not more, counting foster homes. Let's face it, even if she's super-sweet (which she is) being "mutilated" and not being a kitten (despite being very young) isn't going to work in her favor, even if I could get cage space

So she'll probably be long-term guesting, if nothing else.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Probably not, but then again, this is loving kitten season. The only way I'd adopt a cat out is through an agency. I doubt I can get cage space at either the Lincoln Humane Society or Lady Furball, and there are AT LEAST twenty kittens, if not more, counting foster homes. Let's face it, even if she's super-sweet (which she is) being "mutilated" and not being a kitten (despite being very young) isn't going to work in her favor, even if I could get cage space

So she'll probably be long-term guesting, if nothing else.

We have 10 "long-term guesting" currently.

 

[Shadowknight]

Put pic links to post-surgery stuff in original message.

The vet did send the pictures, finally.
Picture of entire cat (not scared, like in earlier pics) http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2985/sc022eb4.jpg
Entire body shot, showing tail area shaved (and tail gone, of course) http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7313/sc023xn0.jpg

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Put pic links to post-surgery stuff in original message.

The vet did send the pictures, finally.
Picture of entire cat (not scared, like in earlier pics) http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2985/sc022eb4.jpg
Entire body shot, showing tail area shaved (and tail gone, of course) http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7313/sc023xn0.jpg

Man, what a cutie! Great pics, thanks!

KT

 

[Shadowknight]

Saturday Morning: Kitty's doing well, though she freaked out and literally started bouncing around the room and trying to tear the plastic collar off when I cranked my air purifier to high. Saw a small dop (not even a drop, hence "dop") and a bit of toenail on the collar, otherwise fine. (Note, she didn't rip the toenail off, but it's like when cats sharpen their claws and they shed slivers from the side, so nothing bad).

Still super-cute and demanding of affection. I kept her in the bathroom overnight. I have cat allergies, but they go away after I adjust to an INDIVIDUAL cat (as shown by my 4 plus the feral in my living room that I'm try to fully acclimate him to indoor life so I can adopt him out). I used Claritin (well, a cheap generic) and a prescription nasal spray that works like a charm, but instead of sneezing she makes fluid drain into my lungs. An uncomfortable experience, to say the least.

ETA: And while she's taken to the litterbox quite easily, she slings the litter. A lot. She apparently wants to dig in deep before expelling waste, while most cats just dump their waste then cover it after. I have a small pile of litter she threw on the floor. I'm keeping her separated from the other cats till next Friday, when she should be pretty much healed up, so I bought her a $4 litter pan from Wal-Mart. Now I have to go back and buy one with a lid to help keep her from throwing stuff all over the floor.

 

[Shadowknight]

bump - still short of the cash needed to pay off the bill. Also, it looks like there MAY be some dead flesh left around the area the tail used to be. I called the doctor today and he said he removed it all, so it could be really nasty scabbing, but I don't think so, since MOST of the sutured area doesn't have any scabbing at all, and there's almost none on her belly where the spaying was done. Hope they don't charge me an additional vet visit tomorrow, since this is directly related to the surgery

 

[K1052]

up for teh kittah

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
bump - still short of the cash needed to pay off the bill. Also, it looks like there MAY be some dead flesh left around the area the tail used to be. I called the doctor today and he said he removed it all, so it could be really nasty scabbing, but I don't think so, since MOST of the sutured area doesn't have any scabbing at all, and there's almost none on her belly where the spaying was done. Hope they don't charge me an additional vet visit tomorrow, since this is directly related to the surgery

That sucks man. I hope they just do the right thing and fix it for free.

Let us know how it goes and feel free to post more pics!!

KT

 

[Shadowknight]

Good news: Apparently, it was normal scabbing where the wound was closed up after the operation. The vet was surprised at how fast she's healing, actually, since she has far less swelling than he expected. Oh, and being a followup, the visit was free

I'll post another update on miss kitty after I get the stitches out on Friday.

 

[Shadowknight]

Update: Took kitty to the vet yesterday for the followup. Actually the second followup as I also took her in on Tuesday since I couldn't tell if she just had some nasty looking scabbing around the surgical wound or if the flesh was still mortifying. Frankly, the vet was amazed at how well she was healing on Tuesday, since there was virtually no swelling. She got the stiches removed and is as sweet as ever. The doctor STILL doesn't want to come out to see me, except when I came in on Tuesday. I didn't get to talk to him before the operation for the initial visit, when I went to pick her up and get her discharge instructions and medication, or at the final followup. He's a good guy, going by the five minutes I saw him on Tuesday, but I'll probably try to go with another doc at the vet since I like actually talking to the guy/girl who performed a medical procedure instead of a vet technician. Just sayin'. As to the tail, after more prodding on my part since they didn't really volunteer that much information, while the pictures on my website were really nasty, it wasn't gangrene. However, all of the flesh in the tail was dead and all of the nerves in that area were also dead. It *could* have eventually turned lethal, providing she got an infection through her spine, but maybe not. I dunno, since the problem with talking to a doctor is that they go super-technical so without a medical degree, a few medical classes, or intensive research of your own, you have no idea what they're talking about and just smile and nod your head.

Also, I'm still short $300 to finish paying for the operation and need to get it all together by the 15th, so if you know anyone sympathetic to injured kitties, direct them to this thread, okay? They don't have to donate directly to me, I've listed the hospital web-address if they want to contact the hospital instead (The link to Stoney Creek is in the second to last update). Thanks.

 

[aidanjm]

will you be keeping the kitten and giving her a home? or will you need to find someone to take her in?

 

[91TTZ]

That's a lot of money to help a stray. I do feel bad for the cat, but considering that the population of them is so high it feels unjustified spending that kind of money out of pocket.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
That's a lot of money to help a stray. I do feel bad for the cat, but considering that the population of them is so high it feels unjustified spending that kind of money out of pocket.

So what would you have done? Leave her on the street and let her die from a rotting tail? Taken her to a pound to get gassed?

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
That's a lot of money to help a stray. I do feel bad for the cat, but considering that the population of them is so high it feels unjustified spending that kind of money out of pocket.

So what would you have done? Leave her on the street and let her die from a rotting tail? Taken her to a pound to get gassed?

It's a shame seeing an injured animal, but do you know just how many stray cats are running around in a city? You'd go bankrupt trying to save them all.

And since some people want to keep them intact instead of neutering them all, they breed out of control and make more problems for tomorrow. Something has to be naturally limiting their number to keep it at the level it's currently at, and it's injuries such as the one you encountered.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
It's a shame seeing an injured animal, but do you know just how many stray cats are running around in a city? You'd go bankrupt trying to save them all.

Yes, there's over 100 over at UNCC across the street. But I'm not TRYING to save them all. There's a small number of cats who keep hanging out on my porch. I've been capturing them, taming them, and trying to give them a good home, though I've got another 3-5 to go. In the meantime I put out food to help them out. I have released two back into the wild (long story, but they kept pooping on the floor and I didn't have the time to deal with it at that point in time) but I got them neutered with shots at a free clinic for feral cats. The others I got done at low costs through local humane groups since they were rescues, or through the feral group and tried to tame them. If it worked out, great. If not, I'd at least release them in better shape than they were.

As to Trays (name of the cat) she actually walked up to me, the first stray to ever do so, and went crazy wanting affection and rubbing against me. Her mom was there with her, and she was a scared feral, so I think I just got lucky with her. It's a lot harder to turn down taking care of a cat when she's already tame and being super sweet and friendly.

And since some people want to keep them intact instead of neutering them all, they breed out of control and make more problems for tomorrow. Something has to be naturally limiting their number to keep it at the level it's currently at, and it's injuries such as the one you encountered.

The same thing could be said of human beings, yet we spend millions every year fighting injuries that require amputation (like her tail) illness (AIDS and cancer), and mental trauma (such as seeing Ted Raimi on screen or accidentally seeing an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond).

 

[Shadowknight]

Minor update: Have hit about $450 in donations so far. Thanks to everyone who's helped. I'm still $200 short of the full bill, so any more help would be appreciated. If I can finall get my damn desktop computer up (which has the only media reader I have from my smartmedia camera) I'll try to get some more pics for people who like seeing cat pictures in a non-vet environment

 

[LordMaul]

Jesus man, that's more money than would feed a half dozen starving children in Africa for a month.

Sure I'll donate... A 12ga. shell or two, that is. Just to make sure you don't miss.

Animals and cats are cute and nice and whatnot, but that's just a waste. Sorry.

 

[Shadowknight]

Jesus man, that's more money than would feed a half dozen starving children in Africa for a month

Such could be said about a normal person going to a doctor after breaking their arm.

Sure I'll donate... A 12ga. shell or two, that is. Just to make sure you don't miss.

Fun as it would be, I'm not sure what the point would be in shooting you with a gun. Thanks for the offer though.

Animals and cats are cute and nice and whatnot, but that's just a waste.

Much like your reply. Plus, apparently $450 of donations say many people disagree.

 

[JohnCU]

i get paid tomorrow, i'll donate $30

 

[LordMaul]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Jesus man, that's more money than would feed a half dozen starving children in Africa for a month</end quote></div>
Such could be said about a normal person going to a doctor after breaking their arm.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Sure I'll donate... A 12ga. shell or two, that is. Just to make sure you don't miss. </end quote></div>
Fun as it would be, I'm not sure what the point would be in shooting you with a gun. Thanks for the offer though.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Animals and cats are cute and nice and whatnot, but that's just a waste.</end quote></div>
Much like your reply. Plus, apparently $450 of donations say many people disagree.

Well, more power to you then, I guess. Though the difference between spending hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on a random cat wandering the street is different than a human going to the hospital. Though maybe you're a hardcore PETA subscriber and thus that sounds entirely unreasonable, I don't know.

Either way, free bump for you, you're this far already - guess you best finish what you started.