Science Diet canned i/d (for Alvin) Thanks!
Elijah
Elijah was in the kill room at the county shelter. His time was up because they were running out of space. He is a nice boy who walks kind of funny, with his head tipped and his legs a little wider in back. The vet thinks he had a broken pelvis. We need xrays to determine this. In order to get the xrays, we need donations! Please mention "Elijah" on your donation.
Alvin
Alvin was found in a neighborhood in Cocoa, an active tomcat! (We took care of that little habit).
He was tested FIV+ which, if you have done your homework, you will know already isn't readily transmitted after the animal is neutered. See the Cornell University Feline Research website for more detailed information.
Alvin got along great with the cats in the foster room, and was soon putting on weight due to a steady, good Nutro diet! But then, his foster mom noticed he was limping. So, she took him to the vet.
Xrays showed 35 b-b's in him! His xrays lit up like a Christmas tree with all those pieces of metal under his skin! Well, from what we can tell, one of the pieces hit his shoulder, which looks damaged beyond repair. We have started him on a glucosamine product to assist if possible with arthritis, etc. Alvin's heart and lungs were a concern, because of inconsistencies in his breathing (which is loud when the vet uses a stethoscope) and the lungs showed abnormally on the xray.
Needless to say, Alvin became a very expensive cat! We luckily got the ultrasound donated (there was a nominal fee) from Coastal Animal Hospital. The heart specialist used the same xrays and the ultrasound CD. Specialists usually prefer to do their own ultrasound so this is a really nice thing for the specialist to do, plus he waived the examination fee of $125!!! We were very happy to reduce expenses!
Alvin was confirmed to have HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) so he is on Diltiazem (heart meds) once a day, plus CoEnzyme Q10, Taurine, and L-Carnitine.
If you would like to donate toward Alvin's costs, which at this time are close to $1100, we would really appreciate it! (April 2007, he just had a checkup, including an echocardiogram, which cost $310; May 2007 he had a dental plus extractions which was another $460). Thanks!
Belinda
Belinda was pulled from the kill room at Cox Road, and was diagnosed as hyperthyroid. The treatment chosen was radioactive iodine, and she is doing great. This is a one-time treatment, so she is "cured". It cost $750, plus the pre-surgery costs of xrays, bloodwork, and other necessary pre-treatment tests pushed this to over $1000. Her last bloodwork results were purr-fect! Now that Belinda feels better, she is coming out of her shell, which her foster mom is glad to see. Belinda still wants to be the only kitty however she tolerates being around other kitties now. Yay!
Limpy's Story
Limpy underwent a major surgery to fix his hernia - someone had kicked him and his liver and intestine were in his chest! After surgery his prognosis became "normal"! His xrays and surgery totaled $800. Limpy was adopted... however his vet bills are still on our charge card!
Shamu
Shamu had a hernia (from what looked like being kicked in the side) and the surgery was $165. Due to his loud "snore" and difficulty breathing through his nose, he went to the specialist for a nasal exploratory scope, which was over $1000. A mouth surgery to extract bad teeth was $1000. Shamu still has a whistling nose - the snoring is controlled by steroids. His chest (breastbone area) is small and angular so his breathing is affected when he is picked up. Shamu will likely be a PAWS foster for the rest of his life; adoptions prove that most people prefer a healthier kitty. Donations are welcome!
Pinky
In November 2006, Pinkie was unable to walk on his back legs (he was about 12 weeks old). Six different vets were seen, 2 orthopedic vets (ortho xrays were $400!). Each vet office had a different diagnosis, and PAWS made a decision to wait because he is still growing. His foster mom did t-touch therapy and he was walking 5 weeks later. He started jumping again about March 1, 2007. Pinkie’s rear leg muscles (his haunches) still look different and not as “built up” as other cats’, so he may have future problems, we don’t know. This is why he is still special needs.
Collier
Collier's foster mom has paid over $1000 in surgeries, plus $300 in antibiotics for this boy! We found Collier at age 8 months hiding in a water pipe at a local business. His right leg was caught all the way into a collar and the damage to the skin of his right armpit was extensive (about 5 inches by 4 inches with the skin cut wide open). The collar was the type that does not stretch, so this was done deliberately by a human! Collier had three surgeries on that armpit, plus two rounds of very expensive antibiotics because there was a rare bacteria in the wound. Collier has healed (it took from August 2006 to February 2007). Collier is a very happy kitty to have a nice armpit now! Collier has THRIVED in foster care, he weighed about 8 pounds coming in, and now weighs over 19 pounds!!!! He gets along great with other cats and is ready for his new home. He loves to play, and it is a hoot watching such a large cat scamper through the house like a kitten! He loves tummy rubs and any kind of attention. Donations toward Colliers past vet bills are welcome, as these are still on the credit card!
Shadow's Story
Shadow came in 2/27/07. His foster mom noticed his scream (ever heard a cat scream?) when he was urinating. He had a terrible case of urine crystals - we put him on antibiotics, & he ate special food. He had some urinalyses done at the vet, to confirm the crystals. After 3 weeks of antibiotics, and special food, the crystals were gone! He is able to eat a maintenance diet without relapse.
Ladybelle
Ladybelle, Spot, and Haley came from an "overbreeding" situation. A lady took in every stray, yet could not afford vet care. Population explosions took place and the kittens would be taken to a local kill shelter. Eventually the gene pool started to show deformities from inbreeding, and the local kill shelter informed the lady that the kittens would be killed because of the deformities.
An in-law looked for other shelters, and PAWS became involved. Two of our vet techs went to the home, the first of many, many trips, and took a "count". The best count we could come up with was 59...yes 59 cats/kittens in one house...one litterpan...we immediately set up 3 more pans! We got on the phone, got foster homes and vet appointments as fast as we could.
Within 3 weeks all the breeding-age cats were fixed, kittens were in foster care, nursing moms were in foster care, and adoptions were underway. Ladybelle, Spot, and Haley are the last three PAWS fosters from this home. Both Ladybelle and Haley now have had all their teeth extracted, which is an expensive procedure, including dental xrays, etc. Spot has had a dental and a couple of teeth removed.
Jet
Jet had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia during his neuter (age 3 months) and died during surgery. His brain was without oxygen, so he is now brain damaged. Jet can walk, run, meow, feed himself, use the litterpan, groom somewhat, and lap water. Jet can climb (not jump) onto the bed...plus he "walks off" the edge of the bed (not jumps) a bit ungracefully, but unharmed... so we got him some stairs!!! His left ear has 30% hearing, and he has some peripheral vision in each eye, and some forward vision in his right eye. Jet's favorite room in the house is the guest bedroom, where the carpet has just been replaced (again, sigh!). Carpet remnants needed!!
PAWS Website - Information
See our website (www.pawsfla.com)....there is an "events" tab, and a "bulletin board" tab, these will give you Brevard and sometimes Orange County local news and events for rescues in our area! (And sometimes other things we think you might be interested in, like the litter that has the least dust, a great website to buy climbers, pet steps, and littermaid pan liners, etc.)
Who We Are
Purrs And Whiskers Shelter, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 , all volunteer organization dedicated to asssisting cats/kittens through rescue, foster, and adoption activities. We find loving homes for unwanted, abandoned, homeless, or abused cats/kittens.
Since we started in the year 2000, we have found loving, caring homes for over 1,650 felines of all colors, shapes, sizes, and ages. Our felines are tested for Feline Leukemia, Feline AIDS when old enough, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and de-flea'd.
We encourage you to visit us at our adoption events! We usually adopt every Saturday at a local pet store. Call our ADOPTION HOTLINE at 321-795-6306 to find out the location for a specific Saturday. You can also volunteer at our adoption booth, we are always grateful for help!
Go to our website, www.pawsfla.com, and see even more of the wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption.
Purrs And Whiskers Shelter, Inc.
P.O. Box 411363
Melbourne, FL 32941
Phone: 321-752-5120
Email:
paws50@bellsouth.net
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