Nikki's Leg Amputation: Your Help Matters

“…Then she realized something horrible, that my leg was either dislocated or broken.”

Hi, my name is Nikki Pearl. I am a severely injured feral kitty. This is my story.

I’m between two and four years old, and I have been a feral kitty all my life, living in constant fear, jumping at every noise, hiding from people, cars, and predators the best I can.

A year and a half ago, I happened upon a house where the lady that lives there loves animals. I mean, she loves animals to a really crazy extent. I’m jumping ahead, but when I would eat outside, she would sit on her porch and talk to HUGE spiders. I think that’s weird. She said they were fascinating. But anyway, she noticed that I have a tipped ear, so I had been trapped, spayed, and released. Early on, she tried to get me in a trap to take me for vaccinations, but I will tell you, I was scared to death. I wouldn’t go near that trap. The lady figured that the more she interacted with me, the better chance she would have of getting me to the vet. So we both went day by day, and my fear of her became less and less, but I still wouldn’t let her touch me.

That lady has two dogs, and one of them has what she calls a “very active” prey drive, and her bonded friend (she calls him a husband) is severely allergic to my kind, so I have never been in her house. She bought me a two-story heated cat house and a heated set of bowls for water and food so that when it’s cold outside, I have a warm and safe place to sleep, and I have fresh water and something to eat each day. But the lady would cry because she couldn’t bring me in her house.

And then along comes Simmy… he’s my bonded friend. He came on the scene after I had been coming to see my lady for about six months. I think Simmy used to have a person to call his own even though he hadn’t been neutered, because he came with me to the lady’s house, and after about a month, he was cuddling with her and purring loudly. That actually looked really comforting. It took me three or four more months to get up the courage, but I started to come to her for petting and to rub up against her. I really looked forward to that.

After coming to my lady’s house every day like clockwork for a year and a half, something horrible happened to me, and I couldn’t get back to her. She couldn’t sleep and would call for me every single day, and all night long, but I didn’t show up. She was so upset about me being missing that she vowed me and Simmy would be indoor kitties. She took Simmy in and prayed for me to come home. She never wanted either one of us to get lost again. While I was gone, she bought two AirTags and two trackers. I think she’s gone a little overboard, but this whole incident made both of us scared in different ways.

After about three weeks of my being missing, my lady’s neighbor called her and told her that she saw a very skinny cat in her yard that she had never seen before and asked if it might be me. There are lots of other feral black cats in the neighborhood, so they weren’t sure. But that night when my lady was putting out food and calling for me, her prayers were answered. I heard her, and I came running up her porch steps and rubbing all over her. I was afraid, and though I did let her pet me, every noise or movement frightened me terribly. Then she realized something horrible, my leg was either dislocated or broken and was at an odd angle. Well, I don’t think she really had any time to think about it; she ran inside and then ran back outside, picked me up while I was fighting her, and put me into the carrier she brought out. It all happened so quickly. And then she released me into a room, and I saw my friend Simmy laying down in a bed with a heating mat, and I went and laid down beside him.

She took me to the veterinarian today. And I’ll tell you what, I did not enjoy it at all. I was scared and in excruciating pain. Once I was sedated, I could relax, and the veterinarian took x-rays, and I got all of my vaccinations today. The lady is now my foster mommy, and she told me today that I have to have surgery to get my leg amputated. All the ligaments in my knee of my hind leg have been severed, including the patella tendon and the ACL. The doctor says the amputation will be less painful than what I’m feeling right now. It will take place on January 31st.

I’m not familiar with the people world, but my foster mom is worried about how she will pay for my amputation. I don’t even know what that means. She told me not to worry about it, that she would take care of it, but she left her phone unlocked right here in front of me, so I felt compelled to share my story. I’m drugged right now but still in pain.

Hi, I’m Sharon, and I just had to take my phone from my foster kitty, Nikki. As far as this mom is concerned, a kitty on drugs shouldn’t be on the phone. But I’m glad Nikki told her story. I have been worried to death about her being missing for three weeks, was elated to see her, and then just so heartbroken to see her injury. She holds up or drags her leg, and an amputation is the only answer. She is a feral cat, but she has become very sweet and cuddly with me. I can’t keep her or Simmy, but I am committed to taking care of them until Nikki heals from her amputation. Then I will need to find a home for them. These are community cats, not my cats, and just before Nikki went missing, I took Simmy to be neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Nikki’s vet bills total around $2800. I’ve paid for her first visit which was a little over $800 but I’m struggling as to how I’m going to pay for the amputation itself.  I’m looking to raise $2000 to cover the rest of the cost. If there is any money remaining, I will use it for her follow-up visits and her microchip. We really appreciate anything you can do to help. If you can’t donate, please pray for a successful surgery and quick healing for Nikki.  Nikki would also appreciate it if her would share her fundraiser with others. Also, if you are uncomfortable with contributing to a GoFundMe, but would like to help, you can donate directly to Springfield Veterinary Center on Friday, January 31st.  Just mention my name and Nikki’s name. Their telephone number is 804–270-7274.

Thank you.

(Meow!)