Pets Alive $5 Feline Friday! Help Support Kitties in Need

Every Tuesday night you can find a group of women loading up a van with humane live traps, sardines, sheets, carriers and cat food.   They are the Pets Alive TNR (Trap Neuter Return) Team, a group dedicated to improving the lives of feral cats in our neighborhood by stopping the unwanted reproduction cycle and allowing these cats to live out their lives in peace.  The Pets Alive TNR program has successfully trapped hundreds of cats and kittens living in the city of Middletown and has provided food, shelter and medical attention for them all. Trap, Neuter and Return is just one part of the No Kill Equation and has been proven to have more successful results in reducing the stray/feral population and improving their quality of life then previous employed strategies. For years many believed that feral cats should be relocated or destroyed. Cats live in areas where they find resources in the form of food, water and shelter. When you relocate them, more take their place through “the vacuum effect”. Killing these feline populations is not only abhorrent, unethical and inhumane but often can result in loss of a service they provide in the form of rodent control in populated areas.
The Pets Alive TNR Team takes all of the cats and kittens that are trapped back to the sanctuary for evaluation. Each is provided with its medical needs. Those that are true ferals are returned to their habitats after recouping from their spay/neuter procedure. The cats and kittens that are deemed friendly are kept at the sanctuary until loving adoptive families can be found. Unfortunately, all too often these cats are suffering from a serious medical ailment that we feel is our duty to help heal. Below are a few of these stories.
CUPID
Last month, we told you about Cupid, a poor little kitten who was found in a wood pile by a TNR team member.  He was rushed into surgery after his foster mom noticed he was not using the kitty litter pan and was diagnosed with imperforate anus.  Meaning, Cupid was born without a rectal opening and therefore, unable to move his bowls and underwent surgery.  Kittens with this rare birth defect have a very low survival rate and it was lucky we got him into surgery on time. Cupid has been recovering from his surgery but has been having some complications.
This week Cupid was taken to a specialist to determine what our options are in helping this boy live a normal life!  He’s a typical kitten, he has a sweet disposition, he is growing and gaining weight.  He’s alert, active and very playful even with all the discomfort we’re sure he’s experiencing.  The specialist diagnosed Cupid with “atresia ani”, a rare birth defect that seldom affects male cats.   This defect is usually accompanied by congenital megacolon, which is an abnormality in part of the large intestine.
Cupid has been under the medical care of our Vet Tech Janet, who is also now his foster mom. She takes him with her everywhere she goes because Cupid requires constant attention.  He is on a special diet to help soften his stool and is administered enemas multiple times throughout the course of the day to help him move his bowels.It’s too early to tell what medical procedures, if any, will help Cupid live a life where he can move his bowels on his own. The specialists have advised we must wait until he is a few weeks older to reassess his condition and determine the best course of action.
The veterinary bills for this sweet angel are already in the several thousand and since Cupid’s future is unknown they could continue to increase over the next few weeks, but we will not give up on him! This boy is special. He’s a survivor, a fighter, he never lets you know that he is feeling down or when he is in pain.
 
MARTINA
Last Tuesday night started out no differently than any other night of trapping. The volunteers load up on supplies and head out to the colony location on the schedule and with any luck at the end of the night their traps will be filled. On this particular night an older feisty feral kitty with a white and orange coat found her way into the trap in search of food. As the traps filled up the team quickly moved in and at first sight of this scared girl they knew something wasn’t right. While her weight and general appearance seemed fine it became immediately apparent that there was something terribly wrong with her right eye.  She was quickly rushed to medical attention where it was determined that her right eye would need to be removed due to potential glaucoma and chronic inflammation. With all medical decisions we are forced to consider all of the variables as well as the advice from our veterinarians.
As a truly feral cat who would be returned to her colony we knew that in order for her to have any quality of life she would need to undergo this surgery. Martina is recovering and still needs daily medical care. She has had a reduced appetite and dehydration. It can be difficult for feral cats to recuperate as they are forced to be handled and held – but we at Pets Alive believe that they should all be provided every opportunity at a high quality, normal and healthy life and work very hard to minimize her stress while still providing her the top quality of care.
PEBBLES
Meet Pebbles. A few weeks ago, three young women came across two tiny kittens in a field. The kittens were flea infested, dehydrated and too young to be without their mama.  The women then heard the cry of another kitten who looked to be in the worst shape of the three.  They searched for more kittens and the mom but none were found.
As good Samaritans, they brought the kittens to our sanctuary to see if we could be of assistance.  Instantly, our staff began to rid the kittens of their fleas and ear mites. You could see relief on the faces of these precious little babies.   But the smallest of the bunch, the last one found, was in bad shape! Her eye was severely infected.  We were unsure if she could even see out of it.  The young women were kind enough to foster two of the kittens but we knew the one with eye infection needed immediate attention and she was rushed to the vet. Pebbles was diagnosed with a severe advanced eye infection that resulted in the membranes to actually adhere to the eye.  It is likely that she will not regain vision in that eye but the vet has advised us that otherwise she is in perfect health and is a very cute and feisty little thing. She is a friendly, happy and playful kitten who loves to climb!
These are only just some of the cases we encounter during kitten season. Pets Alive commits to each and every animal and will continue to provide all with the highest quality of care and love that they need to recover and live normal, happy, healthy lives. Unfortunately – like so many other aspects of life – it often takes a large financial commitment as well. WE NEED YOUR HELP to continue to rescue all of the Cupid’s, Pebbles and Martina’s out there that NEED US TO SAVE THEM. Please join us in our first ever $5 Friday Campaign. YOU can help provide medical care to a sweet kitten in need. YOU can save a life. YOU can make a difference for just $5!!!