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.
The eyes ruptured so they cleaned out the socket not ripped them out. They humanely repaired them and partially blind cats can live long happy indoor lives. Fully blind kittens have been shown to adapt quite well and lives full, happy indoor lives. It is ignorant to believe an animal cannot adapt. As far as neutering and spaying, it actually helps them lead longer and happier lives. Please go do some actual research before commenting on something you clearly know nothing about. As far as tbe rescuer goes, she is a wonderful person for putting the needs of animals above her own.
J. C.Collins. So you claim to care about cats, but now you want to lobatomize them? Their eyes were removed because they were already blind by disease and it was to save them from life threatening infections. These kittens are tame and will find good homes. They will never bother YOU or anyone else. They will be loved and cared for.
Exactly WHY do you object to that?????? You say cats should be spayed or neutered but then say that humans rip out their reproductive organs. Are you NOW saying spaying and neutering is wrong? You are a very sick and disturbed individual. Please get some help.
JC Collins Your ignorance and stupidity is astounding! Anyone in rescue and who truly has a passion for helping any cat would never look to declaw, first off and foremost. No reason to euthanize those kittens when their issues are treatable. There’s no one to blame for their issues besides the many careless owners who don’t get their cats spayed/neutered or look to seek proper medical attention and choose to dump them. So how about taking your misinformed miserable self elsewhere! Considering you don’t know Kelly or about the countless cats she takes care of on a daily basis or has helped find homes, do us all a favor and Shut the Fuck Up!!!
I’m going to propose to the SPCA that they recommend lobotomies for cats, that will surely save even MORE cat’s lives!
JC Collins, give it up, we know you are an uneducated troll & if anyone is looking for attention it’s you. It’s really very, very sad when a supposed “man” sits behind a keyboard seeking out attention. Stop your nonsense you are embarrassing yourself.
You are a moron she does what she can do for cats back off and go find someone else to pick on I had a kitten with a disability like these babies and he lived a very healthy lifestyle happy and healthy she does so much for cats and kittens just because you don’t like them don’t sit there and tell her oh you should humanly euthanize them go be a troll somewhere else