*Caution, photos are graphic and upsetting.*
Last week we were called to assist the cats living in and outside of a home where a lady with a serious hoarding illness resides. Neighbors were concerned about sick cats, dead cats, foul smells coming from the home, filth. In cooperation with Social Services and with rescue help from Spay It Forward, we went to the scene Saturday evening and began removing the most urgent cats.
The most urgent cat was Mason. Mason is suffering from an extreme infection of his paws which has turned them into 4 raw, bloody stumps that are packed with mud, grass, and debris. Left in this unsanitary environment, Mason has not been able to heal and has suffered this excruciating condition for years. He was rushed to our specialist veterinarian where he was anesthetized so the feet could be debrided of the rotting flesh and filth, and his rampant infection and pain treated. Mason is a good patient, but his pain is so severe that he must stay at the vet for now so he can be anesthetized daily for bandage changes and to ensure his wounds are healing correctly. Mason has a very long road ahead of him with daily bandage changes, cage rest, and TLC.
In addition to Mason, there are multiple cats also needing urgent care. Shadow is an 18 year old cat with unchecked diabetes that has led to a condition called diabetic neuropathy that has weakened his legs and causes him to walk on his hocks and forearms. His condition is treatable once his diabetes is under control through glucose monitoring and insulin. When we found him, Shadow was living under a bush in the front yard, unable to crawl up onto the porch any longer to eat with the other cats.
Grayson is an 8 week old kitten, the only survivor of his litter – the bodies of his littermates discovered and disposed of unceremoniously by the owner, just before we arrived. Grayson is suffering from a terrible upper respiratory infection and is currently receiving subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, and must be force fed until his appetite improves.
And there are many others; our work continues removing cats even as we tend to the wounded we’ve already taken in. Many of the cats are friendly – these each deserve a new, loving home where they will be cherished and we will ensure that each cat receives a wonderful new home once they are healthy, neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Many of the cats are feral – these will each enter our Barn Cat Program and be relocated in groups to farm adopters where they will have haylofts to sleep in, field mice to chase, and full bowls of chow every day.
Without knowing how many additional cats we will rescue, we are estimating our veterinary bills at $2,500 right now. If you are able, please consider making a donation to this fund for any amount you can. These cats need us urgently and we cannot let them down.
Donations are tax deductible. If you prefer to send a check, please mark it as for “Hope for Hoarder Cats” and mail to:
IVCT
617 Main St.
Mendota, IL 61342
Thank you for your assistance and for sharing in our belief that every cat is special and deserves a chance.