Thanks to an Upstate SC rescue, a Good Samaritan and Facebook, this poor cat has been saved

Thanks to an Upstate South Carolina Rescue, a Good Samaritan who couldn’t walk away and do nothing and Facebook sharing, this poor cat has been saved.

Carol, who lives in the Greenville area, found this poor soul Friday evening and immediately shared her on Facebook, saying

“Just out of options for where else to look for help…. I encountered the saddest, almost dead cat out at Saluda Lake today. It is definitely starving and malnourished. It seems to have some dental issues going on, as its eye teeth are very very long and it’s mouth is encrusted in goo. Its fur is dry and patchy, and there is almost no fur left on its tail. I am sure that a vet bill to rehabilitate this little cat would be enormous.

It is very sweet and came to me when I called to it, so I don’t think it’s feral, but rather abandoned. I did give it some dry cat food, which it ate really fast. I was afraid to try to pick it up without gloves and a cat carrier handy. I can’t call Humane Society, as I am sure they would just put it down immediately. I have tried contacting some cat rescue folks, but have not heard back from them.

Any suggestions about a group that works with cats like this? Or a vet that helps in these situations reasonably? It’s gonna get cold really fast…..”

A lot of comments came in. Everything from “it looks rabid” to “it looks like a baby bobcat.” While everyone was concerned for the cat, they were just as concerned that no one be injured or exposed to disease while trying to help this lost soul.

Enter Foster Paws Rescue (you may remember them from the Julianne Westberry days when they saved a lot of the survivors). They’re a non-profit and have 501c3 status. Their mission in the short term is to foster, spay/neuter and re-home homeless cats and kittens. While they pull from high-kill shelters in the Greenville area, they also advise the public on any stray or feral cats found and provide alternatives for keeping the cat out of the shelter system.

Carol was correct in saying the Humane Society (or animal control) would likely have euthanized this cat, now named Liz. That won’t happen now because Liz is in the very capable hands of Foster Paws Rescue and CARE Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Spartanburg. She tested negative for leukemia and FIV and FIP has been ruled out (hooray!!!). There are other health problems involved (respiratory, intestinal, etc) but CARE will have to do a more thorough assessment after they get her cleaned up a bit. She is staying at least overnight at that facility.

An update came in early Saturday evening saying Liz has had all but one canine tooth removed. Three-fourths of her teeth were already missing. She appears to have part of her tongue missing as well.  Liz also had feces from her ears to her tail and has had a bath. She has been started on medication and has eaten wet food.

The best news of all is Liz can recover, thanks to all those that cared so much about this one lost soul. If you’d like to make a donation towards her care, click here for their website donation page or call CARE at (864) 591-1923 and tell the staff you’d like to help Liz, whose account is listed under Foster Paws Rescue.

Hopefully, Foster Paws will keep us posted with updates on their Facebook page. Let’s all keep Liz in our thoughts and prayers. Once she recovers, Foster Paws will be able to find her the perfect forever home.