This horror story details how badly things can go wrong when young kittens don’t receive timely care for an upper respiratory infection. It comes from Kellie Wester, a feral cat rescuer from the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Not only does Kellie practice TNR, she also rehomes many cats who are friendly and has a Facebook community page titled My Friendly Ferals.
Kellie posted the heartbreaking story that began last Sunday when she was contacted by a friend with three very sick kittens who were found under a house. Thanks to an untreated upper respiratory infection, they’re fighting for their lives this week.
“Sunday I was contacted about helping these three kittens. I called and messaged several rescues, but they were unable to help due to lack of foster homes. After several hours of trying, it seemed the only place at these kittens would be able to go to would be the animal shelter that was already filled to the max. I posted on Facebook for help with rescue, people suggested that I do a fundraiser, and I thought long and hard about it. I really did not want to tell the people to take the kittens to the animal shelter, but they needed medical attention. I called and told them that if I could raise the funds that they could drop them off at my vet the next day.”
It truly took an entire animal loving community to get these kittens the surgery they needed. They were dropped off at the vet on Monday, had surgery Tuesday, and Kellie picked them up on Wednesday. It’s unsure how old they are. They aren’t even two pounds yet! One of the kittens lost both eyes and also had an umbilical hernia which was repaired. Another kitten lost one eye, and the third has kept both eyes (as of June 24).
The third kitten will see the veterinarian again on Monday. Unfortunately, the other two kittens started doing poorly on Thursday. Kellie took them to a vet on Friday because they all were running high fevers and had a lot of infection oozing out of the eye socket. They also all have ear infections and are being treated for that. Another antibiotic was added and they are also on pain medication. Kellie is giving the one that kept both eyes several medications in an effort to save the eyes.
Kellie will be dropping them off Monday morning around 10 a.m. for surgery again and will have a vet bill for them spending the night. A YouCaring fundraiser has been set up here. You may also donate via PayPal or contact Kellie on her community page if you’d like to call in a payment directly to the veterinarian.
The bill right now has hit close to $2,000. Add in additional surgery, treatment and spay and neuter once they’re healthy enough and we’re still looking at a “village effort” to raise the funds.
I hope this article is a wake-up call as to what can happen should a cat owner decide not to see a veterinarian for a condition that’s easily treated if caught in time.
Please help Kellie if you can. She’s responsible not only for the care of feral cats but also in getting many of them who are deemed adoptable off the streets and into forever homes.
Elisa
Note: Photos provided by Kellie Wester. Updates will be posted on the Facebook: My Friendly Ferals community page listed above as well as the YouCaring webpage.
They don’t love birds, etc., as much as they pretend. Or, they’d be going after the correct target…human population expansion and its effects on wildlife habitats. Instead they pick an easy target, albeit the wrong one, like cats and try to flex their puny mental muscles. Facts work against them.
How many expensive and painful surgeries has that poor kitten gone through so far, and how much money was spent so far, just so you can torture animals to try to make yourselves feel good in pretending you are saving cats’ lives. You are all seriously emotionally and mentally disturbed with how much suffering that you have to put that animal through just so you can find ways to think you have a purpose, or are in any way decent people. The suffering that poor kitten has gone through and will continue to go through throughout its whole life proves your self-worth as a caring human 100% to the contrary. It takes real strength of heart to do what is right. Apparently none of you have any of that.
ENOUGH on poor Sick Mr Collins.
This is for these Precious Kitties and dear Sweet Loving Kellie. Mr Collins will have to get help elsewhere Not here.
Thank you all who donated and contributed their good kind Help for these little Angels.
The problem isn’t solved until human behavior is changed. S/N till the cows come home there are thousands of cat owners tossing that once cute little kitten out the door today to add the feral cat problem. What was spent on these kittens is a drop in the bucket since humans are producing stray and feral cats assembly line fashion.
Talk about attention-seeking! Only a truly self-absorbed troll would respond to a story like this with your horrible comments… Sociopath much?