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.
Thanks Kat for your passionate defense. Beautiful.
JC Collins. You make me sick. Kellie spends most of her money spaying, neutering and finding homes or safe places for animals that someone threw away or grew tired of or abused. Saving those kittens was a mission of love for her and for the rest of us who support the cause. Yes they are suffering because some stupid heartless human left them to die. Through all the pain and treatments they are purring and loving her and will make great companions for someone- perhaps a disabled child who wants a pet that is like them or a lonely senior who needs someone or something to need them. They are valued. And Kellie and all those who follow her path will keep on trying to save as many lives as they can with more TNR and more education on spaying and neutering. But we will not sacrifice the tiny victims that have been born into a harsh and cruel world if we can save them and give them a quality of life they deserve and we owe them. If the vets had thought there was no hope they would have said so. They do not want to see them suffer either.
Really .. you think people like Kellie are not helping. Take off your dark glasses and look around. Why should a tiny life be lost for a reason they had nothing to do with. ? Only an oxy moron would say such a thing. I have 40 cats of my own some because people couldn’t be bothered to have them spayed or neutered. Some just plain dumped like trash.. some dumped at a shelter. So listen to me wake your ass up.. you are the. The type of person I can’t stand. And a good reason I don’t play well with humans
JC Collins, there is no reason whatsoever why these kittens should be euthenthized. Yes, they are going thru a tough time right now but many a cat/kittens have unfortunately gone thru this & have gone on to live long, healthy lives. You are completely missing the point of this article….they wouldn’t be in this predicterment had mom or dad been S/N. Any extra money that has been donated would be used for any future cats/kittens that come Kelli’s way. You are not God, you do not get to decide anyone’s fate. Those kittens will be fine, it just takes time. Why not put your efforts into informing uneducated individuals about S/N, it’s not necessary in this case as Kelli has TNR’d so many cats already so she doesn’t need to he told what to do, spread your words elsewhere where it will be useful.
Kellie is helping. She’s helping those three kittens. She has no intention of releasing them back into the wild, so their sightlessness will not be a danger to themselves.
Thank you Michael Broad for responding with a careful, logical reply to JC Collins. I appreciate JC’s compassion for what the kittens are enduring but if they recover, they at least have a chance at a good life and the story will undoubtably drum up additional donations to spay/neuter programs. Hopefully, it will encourage pet owners to s/n their own pets AND encourage responsible citizens to participate in TNR.