Please donate to help "Pull Tab Tabby"

***GREAT NEWS***

Today, March 5th, I brought the tabby to see my vet since he had been healing well. She confirmed that his toe DID NOT need to be amputated after all!!!!! His toe is crooked, but not as much as before, since the swelling has decreased. He walks well and uses his scratching post regularly, seemingly without pain. He will require another dose of antibiotics in a week since his paw is still healing. Therefore, the new fundraising goal has dropped dramatically from $3262 to $1935!!!! We are so close to reaching the new goal! A BIG thank you to everyone who has donated to help this sweet tabby. Every little bit helps! :-)

*****UPDATES can be found below*****

Hi, my name is Tanya, and I need help to fund urgent vet care for a stray cat with a badly injured foot.

How This Adventure Started

Having been a lifelong cat lover and having helped trap 46 strays in the past (with the help of the wonderful volunteers Janice Richard, Cindy Goyette, and Angela D'Souza), there was no doubt that I should help this injured stray cat. When a neighbor asked for advice and assistance trapping the stray, I was immediately compelled to help even if I didn't have an immediate plan. I was thinking with my heart as I usually do. :-) Unsure of what to do with the stray once we trapped him, I contacted a few friends at the Cat Rescue Network, since this rescue has helped with vetting, fostering, and the adoption of stray cats. The CRN and a few other rescues could not take in the tabby since they were financially strapped at the time. Not willing to turn a blind eye to the stray's needs, I brought him to my vet to see what could be done.

What We Discovered At The Vet

It was discovered that this intact male tabby was approximately 2 years old and had this metal pull tab attached to his front toes for a long time. The tabby required sedation to remove the embedded pull tab since his foot was inflamed, infected, and oozing pus. It was discovered through blood tests and an x-ray that the stray tested positive for FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (he could be rehomed with cats that are FIV negative without worry of transmission since it is transmitted through deep bite wounds. This tabby's temperament is wonderful. He is the sweetest, calmest, and most loving male cat. :-) FIV gradually weakens a cat's immune system over several years. It is a cat-only disease and doesn't pose a risk to humans or other animals. Many FIV-positive cats live long, healthy lives without showing virus symptoms.) The stray had a toe fracture, and part of his toe would need to be amputated. His gait would be minimally affected.

Everyone at the Mer Bleue Veterinary Hospital has fallen in love with the tabby and his pudgy cheeks. :-)

Home Sweet Home For Recovery

This sweet boy was sent home with me for his wound to heal before his 2nd surgery. Since the stray would be in my home, I wanted to ensure he wouldn't bring with him any additional diseases. So before we left the vet, Dr. Gold gave him an antibiotic injection, the necessary feline vaccinations (FVRCP + Feline Rabies Vaccine and his booster has been scheduled for March 24th, 2025), Milbemax for deworming (plus additional medication to take in 2 weeks), Nexgard to treat fleas and ticks (plus another dose to be given in a month), Metacam (pain medication), anti-anxiety medication (Gabapentin to be given before the 2nd surgery), and the tabby's MOST favorite of all, a cone so that he wouldn't lick his wound.

I set him up in our bathroom to rest and blocked the small space beneath the door. My very social cats would stick their paws beneath the door to say hello if they could. :-)

Day 1

The tabby was groggy from the anesthesia and looked sad wearing his cone. He regularly required help to be fed since the cone made it difficult to reach his bowls. He relaxed and slept a lot today.

Day 2

He purred for the very first time!!!!!! I'm hoping he knew he was being helped and was in a safe and loving environment. :-)

Day 3

This kitty is a real snugglebug! He kept climbing on my lap, trying to get as close as possible to me. What a sweet boy!

********1st UPDATE********

Day 4

The kitty has been having trouble urinating. He squats for 5 minutes before anything happens. He also hasn't pooped since we trapped him 5 days ago. I will take him to the vet tomorrow.

Day 5

Dr. McLaren suggested a few things to try (Restorolax, a change of rooms, a different collar). She is not worried about his squatting since he urinates a large amount. There is no charge for this visit! What an angel! Thank you for your big heart, Dr. McLaren!

Day 6

No poop yet! His paw is slightly less swollen, and he is playing more. :-) The tabby discovered catnip for the first time. Needless to say, he LOVES it!

Day 7

At 1:30 am, the tabby had 2 poops! HOORAY!

He must have some Houdini in him. He has magically escaped his new inflatable collar several times now. I take it off when I sit with him and watch him like a hawk to make sure he doesn't lick his injured paw. He is not a fan of his new collar either. This is the look I got when I tried to get the collar back on. :-)

Day 8

The 4 kitties that I was catsitting for a friend went home today. I cleaned their room and moved the tabby there. He has much more space than the bathroom and LOVES his new room.

Day 9

The tabby used a scratching post for the first time. It must have felt amazing! I also witnessed him making biscuits on a fluffy cat bed. So cute! I noticed that he has a kink in his tail as if it was once broken or he was born this way. Either way, it doesn't seem to bother him.

****2nd UPDATE****

Day 10

I brought the tabby to the vet to have his toe reassessed. Dr. Gold saw that his toe was much better and agreed that it no longer needed to be amputated. She did not charge me for the visit or the x-ray. Thank you, Dr. Gold! :-)

Day 11

Today is the BIG day for neutering and microchip implantation. We have a very groggy little tabby afterward.

Day 12

The stray is not feeling well at all. He is pacing, trying to lick himself, unhappy with the collar, and plain miserable. I brought him back to the vet. They cleaned up his bottom, which was covered in litter and fur. They give him a 3-day slow-release pain medication and keep him for the day. I am only charged for the pain meds. :-) At home, he is unhappy and trembling. Poor little guy! He eats little of his food but enjoys 2 Catit treats instead.

Day 13

I purchase him a new flat collar (the 3rd one), which he also does not like. He becomes super cuddly and purrs when I remove the collar, though.

Day 14

Houdini is back! The tabby managed to take his collar off during the night. He is happy that I moved him back to the big playroom. His toe and his little behind have healed well. :-)

Day 15

He is cuddly and purry as ever! He is my little lap cat! :-)

What's Next?

****UPDATE: We were able to save his toe since it had healed well. It is crooked, but he has no pain.

For his 2nd surgery on March 6th, 2025, he will have part of his fractured toe removed, will be neutered, and will have a microchip implanted. I plan to care for this darling stray until he is healed and ready for adoption. With the assistance of the Cat Rescue Network or another rescue, I hope to find a forever home for this sweet boy.

Fundraising Goal

***UPDATE: THE NEW FUNDRAISING GOAL IS $1935 since he no longer needs his toe amputated.

With the first bill totaling $1266.99 and the estimate for the second one being $1994.50, I am hoping that through fundraising, we can cover the full amount of $3262. The total cost of the stray’s vetting was a huge surprise and was much more than I had anticipated. It was much more than I could cover, but I felt he deserved a chance at a good life.

Message To Donors

If you can donate, any amount is much appreciated; as little as $5, $10, or $15 will make a difference. Pull Tab Tabby and I thank you for the time you've taken to read this, your kindness, and your generosity. Sharing the link to our fundraiser would also be incredibly helpful to its success. Again, thank you for caring! It really does take a village! :-)