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.
No. It’s a mission for attention for herself, and nothing more than that. Don’t try to kid yourself nor anyone else.
How odd. You’re willing to save a cat’s life by ripping its eyes out so it has to live out its life while blind. But you rail and moan and weep about people declawing cats so someone will adopt them.
Hey, why not just rip out their reproductive organs, blind them, AND declaw them to get them adopted! That will surely save cats’ lives!!
Not ONE OF YOU knows what the word “humane” means.
Susano, If you think JC’ s comments were based on compassion, your’re sorely mistaken. This person is a troll that routinely opposes anything that helps cats. Michael’s response was nicely worded because he is a decent human being that loves cats. JC does not love cats. JC hates cats and hates anyone that tries to help them. Kellie is trying to help these kittens and JC is trying to demean her and anyone else who has contributed to help with the vet bills. There is NO compassion, just hatred for anyone who cares for cats, because JC wants all cats dead. BTW, JC Collins. You make ME sick.
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AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU J.C. COLLINS MAKE ME SICK. You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Kellie is doing everything she can to help not only these poor kitten but other cats as well. You can take your phony self-righteousness and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. Why did you read the story? So you could get on your soapbox made of crap and spew crap? So why don’t you crawl back under your rock and stay there.
Michael, I’m sure you remember a time when everyone wanted Sealy killed for his car fan blade/belt injury. Many thought he’d have been better off dead. What if we’d allowed him to be taken and euthanized.
Well said. I think Collins is a troll.