WINTER, FINLEY, and IGLOO

March 2005

 

 

A 4-week old Winter was brought into the shelter with his 5 brothers and sisters.  He was nearly blind from an upper respiratory infection that had been untreated.  After a week of medication, it was clear that his condition was worsening and that neither eye could be saved.  At 5 weeks of age, Winter underwent  bi-lateral eye removal surgery.  Being so young and still being ill, his chances of survival was poor.  He was given a blood transfusion (thanks to the vet receptionist's donor cat), and was up and eating on his own within 24 hours of his surgery.  The little guy had beaten the odds.

 

 

 

 

 

Almost immediately it was obvious that Winter had the makings of a "normal" cat life.  He could hold his own when wrestling with his sister, Jelly (the tortie, who I had adopted as well), he could climb his carpeted cat tree, and you just try to keep him away from his food bowl!

 

 

Winter had to tolerate the sutures in his eyes for 2 weeks.  Upon their removal, we saw that he had healed beautifully and needed no further medical attention.  He was now fit for adoption.  I couldn't imagine this little guy being bounced from shelter to shelter, rescue group to rescue group, so I decided to become his permanent mom.

 

 

Here is my favorite pic!  This is Winter's first time descending the stairs.   Just like a blind person's cane, he would wave his arm from side to side until he felt footing underneath.  I was preparing his breakfast and he decided I was taking too long to come and carry him downstairs!

 

 

Today Winter is a big, beautiful 2 year old that doesn't remember a "seeing" life because his present life is full and happy and content.  He is absolutely normal in every manner, from running (yes, running!) up and down the stairs, to playing with toys, to jumping on the couch and bed.  Contrary to popular belief, you CAN move furniture and objects around and it WILL NOT interfere with a blind cat.  They can easily feel a new object with their whiskers, ears, and fur, and simply walk around it.  It's done very smoothly and without incident - he never bumps or runs into anything.  Most people do not even know he's blind because his movements and maneuvering are so smooth and cat-normal. 

 

 

As a matter of fact, here's a pic of him after he had JUMPED ONTO THE KITCHEN COUNTER! (No, I'm not kidding!).  It took him only 2 tries, and up onto the counter he was!..no chairs, no stepstools, no assistance...he jumped right up from the floor!  You can imagine I had to run for the camera when I saw that!

 

There are varying degrees of eye removal surgeries, and Winter required a complete removal.  His tear ducts and lids were removed, as well as most muscles.  Basically, all his ocular components are gone.  He is, however, able to "blink" from his eyebrow muscles, which I find quite cute!  I love him with all my heart and I can't imagine him any other way.

 

 

 

Finley was brought into the shelter as a stray at the age of 2 months.  His eye was so deformed from an untreated infection that it was swollen to the size of a grape, and had dried, forming a leather-like crust.  He was rushed to the vet within just an hour of his arrival.  The deformed eye was removed, and his other eye, which had sustained extensive damage as well, was sutured closed to aid in healing.  He then had to recover from the awful infection that had spread through his entire ocular and sinus cavity. 

 

 

 

 

After 2 weeks of intensive TLC and a month of antibiotics, he made a full recovery with his "good" eye healing as well as it would.  Today, that eye has a grey film covering about 1/3 of the cornea and his iris is slightly discolored, but he seems not to notice.  He is a slinky, slender, beautiful 1½ year old today.  Finley is the least disabled of all my handicapped pets, and I really don't consider him to be special needs at all.

 

 

Igloo was abandoned on the sidewalk, in a carrier, in a February New York City winter.  She had an awful respiratory infection that never seemed to resolve, even after weeks of treatment.  She eventually lost her eye, enduring 3 eye surgeries in total.  Within the next several months, she became multi-symptomatic...severe chin and facial acne, conjunctivitis, an ocular fistula, loss of vocal use, severe anal swelling and irritation, food pad infections, ear infections, abdominal bloating, severe facial infections and hair loss.  After 2 vets could not determine her illness, I was referred to a dermatological specialist who diagnosed severe yeast infections.  Food allergies were ruled out and costly oral antifungals were ineffective, so a biopsy was ordered and a diagnosis of inhalant allergies was made.  She's been wearing the e-collar for 9 months now.  Her symptoms had gotten so bad that she was self-mutilating, and the collar helps in preventing this.  I am still in the process of finding a permanent treatment, but to control her numerous and painful symptoms, Igloo will be on several medications for the rest of her life. 

 

 

I think Igloo knows how much I've tried to help her in time she's been with me.  She would have been euthanized had I not decided to help and adopt her, and I believe that when she looks up at me with her one golden eye and chipped tooth, and gives me her wheezy, aerated meow, she's really saying "Thanks mom".

Although not a part of my permanent family, here are some handicapped fosters that I've cared for:

 

 

Chocolate Chip was brought in to be euthanized because her eye had already ruptured.  She was sick and wheezing constantly, but by her fireball attitude, you'd never know it!

 

 

Skye was in critical condition when I came to care for her.  She pulled through after several weeks of intensive TLC, although her battle with illness cost her an eye.  She was adopted, along with another shelter kitten, last Christmas Eve to a wonderful family.  I get frequent updates, and I hear she now rules the roost!

 

R.I.P. to the following disabled kitties:

 

Key Lime was a sweet, people-loving kitten who was born with anal atresia (a congenital defect where the rectum is not properly formed).  He was euthanized at 6 weeks of age after he physically deteriorated and his condition was diagnosed.

 

Batman had one of the most severe cases of cerebellar hypoplasia we've seen.  I had considered adopting him permanently, but I realized that even I could not give him the quality of life he deserved.  I made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize him at 12 weeks of age.

 

Gee Whiz was my most favorite kitten that I would have adopted permanently.  He was brought into the shelter with both eyes ruptured and with ringworm over 80% of his body.  Even so, he held up his head and looked your way when you walked into the room, and purred endlessly when held.  I cared for him for 2 weeks before he passed away at the age of 3 months.

 

May the higher powers bless and keep all these little ones.

 

Have a question about my pets? 

 

 

I would like my webpage's donation to go to the Liberty Animal Shelter at www.libertyhumane.org.  They're the non-profit shelter that I do work for.

To date this page has been responsible, in part, for a donation of $21.00 to

www.libertyhumane.org.