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- Dec 8, 2016
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Hello everyone. I did not know where else to post this, so please remove it if I am in the wrong forum. It is a bit of a rant, but I also need advice. This past Thursday I came across a facebook posting about a black kitten who could not move its hind legs and the person who posted was asking for help getting treatment for the kitten. I called the number and we made an appointment to meet the following day at a vet I trust to check the kitten.
It turned out that it was a teenage girl whose mom had rescued the kitten from someone who was dragging the kitten tied to a bike with the intention of throwing the kitten against a car to get run over. Yes, that was the story they told me, as horrifying as it sounds.
It appears the kitten has spinal cord compression, most probably due to trauma. He is also ingested with fleas, cannot use his hind legs, does not control his sphincters... But is still very lively. He is eating well, grooms himself, and is a purring machine.
I made a little video, but I can't figure out how to post it. Basically, from the waist up, he is a normal, adorable kitten, but from the waist down he has no control of his body. He has been staying in the vet hospital since Friday. He is progressing, but ever so slowly. He still can't stand, but his left hind leg is offering a bit more resistance when we try to move it, so that gives us hope.
Now, the agreement I had with the girl and her mother was that I would pay for the vet, but if and once he recovered, they would keep him. But guess what? they have not visited the kitten at all, nor are they picking up the phone when I call. I have called, left messages, sent text messages and tried to contact them any way I can, but nothing. So now it is very clear to me that they have dumped the kitten on me. That is ok, I did not want another cat, but I can manage. He deserves a chance. I am helping him, not the people who dumped him.
The only thing that really bothers me is why couldn't they just be honest about it and tell me they could not keep him.They swore up and down that they would be there everyday to visit and help any way they could, but nothing. Another reminder of why I prefer cats to people.
My husband says I should just let it go, focus on the kitten and either keep him ourselves or find him a good home, so this is what I have chosen to do. We visit him everyday, twice a day if we have the time and move his legs (we have some experience with physical therapy with dogs). So, in the end, what I wanted to ask was if anyone has any advice to share about how to best help the kitten.
Since we focused on the most pressing issues, he is still infested with fleas and is a bit smelly because some urine has surely stuck to his tail. Today we tried to clean him up as best as we could, but he still smells. He definitely needs a bath, he is also getting a little bit sore around his tail because of the poop and urine. I want to make him as comfortable as possible, but I also don't want to stress him unnecessarily.
The vet keeps him in a diaper. Is there a better way to avoid getting a diaper rash? I really have no idea. He has also not been dewormed.
Lastly, please send good vibes for this little guy. He does not deserve what has happened to him.
It turned out that it was a teenage girl whose mom had rescued the kitten from someone who was dragging the kitten tied to a bike with the intention of throwing the kitten against a car to get run over. Yes, that was the story they told me, as horrifying as it sounds.
It appears the kitten has spinal cord compression, most probably due to trauma. He is also ingested with fleas, cannot use his hind legs, does not control his sphincters... But is still very lively. He is eating well, grooms himself, and is a purring machine.
I made a little video, but I can't figure out how to post it. Basically, from the waist up, he is a normal, adorable kitten, but from the waist down he has no control of his body. He has been staying in the vet hospital since Friday. He is progressing, but ever so slowly. He still can't stand, but his left hind leg is offering a bit more resistance when we try to move it, so that gives us hope.
Now, the agreement I had with the girl and her mother was that I would pay for the vet, but if and once he recovered, they would keep him. But guess what? they have not visited the kitten at all, nor are they picking up the phone when I call. I have called, left messages, sent text messages and tried to contact them any way I can, but nothing. So now it is very clear to me that they have dumped the kitten on me. That is ok, I did not want another cat, but I can manage. He deserves a chance. I am helping him, not the people who dumped him.
The only thing that really bothers me is why couldn't they just be honest about it and tell me they could not keep him.They swore up and down that they would be there everyday to visit and help any way they could, but nothing. Another reminder of why I prefer cats to people.
My husband says I should just let it go, focus on the kitten and either keep him ourselves or find him a good home, so this is what I have chosen to do. We visit him everyday, twice a day if we have the time and move his legs (we have some experience with physical therapy with dogs). So, in the end, what I wanted to ask was if anyone has any advice to share about how to best help the kitten.
Since we focused on the most pressing issues, he is still infested with fleas and is a bit smelly because some urine has surely stuck to his tail. Today we tried to clean him up as best as we could, but he still smells. He definitely needs a bath, he is also getting a little bit sore around his tail because of the poop and urine. I want to make him as comfortable as possible, but I also don't want to stress him unnecessarily.
The vet keeps him in a diaper. Is there a better way to avoid getting a diaper rash? I really have no idea. He has also not been dewormed.
Lastly, please send good vibes for this little guy. He does not deserve what has happened to him.