The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre

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Wednesday 13th May, and 9.00pm and the phone is ringing, we had just finished feeding, “found a cat on the B2145 at Sidlesham, badly injured, but still alive.” Nigel grabbed a carrier, blanket, and off to see this most horrendously injured cat. Our vet was contacted immediately, the diagnosis was not good, he had a broken leg, smashed jaw, and his eye was in a very bad way. Medication given, and a temporary wire up of the jaw, and everything was crossed for him to pull through.

The next morning, we tentatively looked into the pen, Caellum, as we had named him, was still with us, but struggling. Later that day, the vet and vet nurse arrived to prepare for whatever the xrays showed. Caellum had to have his badly injured eye removed, stitches in his paw, a better wire up of his jaw, and his broken leg was bandaged. This took at long time, but still the outcome was looking grim. He was struggling to breathe, was his bladder working okay? It is then you start to question if this is right to do, was he in such pain, should we carry on? But every time Caellum was stroked or spoken to he padded his paws, and tried a gargled purr, so we decided we were going to do everything to sort him out.

Caellum was very dehydrated and he was being given fluid under the skin, and of course with his jaw made it difficult to eat, and was also very mucky, and because of his injuries he was difficult to clean up, but we did our best. He was hand fed special liquid food with all the essential vitamins included, and slowly he started to lick it for himself. We added some squashed down cat food and he began to eat, still needed encouragement, but he was trying, and at all times was totally grateful to us. The antibiotics started to work, and things were looking better, he wanted to stand up, but he collapsed in a heap.

Further xrays were taken, and as the vet had feared his leg was very badly broken, and it was thought best to remove the leg. We have had lots of 3 legged cats, and they never have a problem, so a third operation was needed. It took him a some hours to come round after more major surgery, but as ever he was so grateful, he even started to try wash himself, it was a lovely sight.

Volunteers, the vet and staff alike were ringing up to “see how the patient” was. Lots of tears, when his “fan club” come to see him, and stroke him, and see his funny little face, looking so kindly back at them. His jaw is definitely healing now, as he gives the odd yawn, and is eating semi solid food. There was great excitement when he went the toilet with no problems!!! So we are pleased everything is in working order.

Road traffic accidents are sadly very common, especially on these busy roads, but the person must have known he had knocked over the cat, but chose to do nothing, the same as the others who quite happily drove round this poor creature. The person who did stop, made an effort, contacted us, and we will always help in a case this. I know people don’t like to get involved, but it is live creature, who is in terrible pain, I would no more ignore it, than I would a person in danger. I know people are concerned about vet bills, but in a situation like this we would always help, and the RSPCA do have an emergency number as well. I know it is different if it a person because we have the National Health Service, but many countries do not, do they ignore suffering? I certainly hope not.

Our thanks go out to the man who helped this creature, and hopefully we will find the owner, of this handsome black and white neutered male.

If we did not have our own vet facility the cost for Caellum’s treatment (and it is still ongoing) would be in excess of £4,000.