Help Teddy Heal: Urgent Medical Care Needed

Hi, my name is Gabbi and as many of my friends & family know, I care for community cats in my backyard that have claimed our yard as their home. They are 2/3 neutered and vaxed. I have worked to care for them over the last year and provided them with shelter, food, and water every day. They are just as much my children as my indoor kitties. I love them so much.

One of our outdoor boys, Teddy, came to eat this morning with wounds. I was petting him on his head when I suddenly noticed scratches all over his face, ears, and a good size open wound on his right front leg. It appears that he was attacked by another animal. If you’ve cared for outdoor cats, you know it’s extremely difficult to find resources to care for community kitties with injuries— most clinics only offer appointments for spay/neuter/vaccines that are 3 months out. I’ve called 5+ places here in Nashville and keep landing with the same answer. The ER being the only place to serve him soon and confirm they can care for him. I am planning to trap him and bring him to an emergency vet this week, knowing it is our only urgent option and will cost $500+ for wound care, $100 for testing to make sure he is not FIV+, plus the basics like flea care and booking his neuter ($1000+). My plan was to get him neutered this Spring, but now that I will be bringing him into my apartment for an extended time, I need him fixed ASAP so he doesn’t spray everywhere.

Anything helps support this guy’s journey, I know he lives a hard life outside. I would love to adopt him if I can confirm he is negative for FIV and can live with my other kitties inside. Once I know he is cleared and healthy, I can attempt the transition. His neuter & wound care will be a hefty bill, but something that also needs to be done to be able to keep him alive. I am in tears seeing my outdoor baby suffering and unfortunately it is extremely cold this week in Nashville, hitting lows of 5 degrees at night. I am doing everything I can providing shelter and resources outside in the meantime. My heart hurts for Teddy, as the odds are not good when an outdoor cat is injured and exposed to harsh elements. I want nothing more than to help him get back to 100% health so he can live the life he deserves. I wish I could fund his whole medical expenses alone but I simply cannot. Thank you for reading Teddy’s story, I appreciate anything you can contribute, even if it’s simply a share ❤️

-Gabbi