Tail amputation puts stray cat on road to recovery

Tail amputation puts stray cat on road to recovery

A stray cat discovered with an injury so severe her tail had to be amputated is recovering thanks to the dedication of staff and volunteers at West Norfolk Cat Centre.

Hope was found in a garden by a member of the public who noticed a wound to her tail, calling in Cats Protection West Norfolk Cat Centre to help.

The grey-and-white cat was brought to the centre in Wards Chase, Stowbridge, where it was immediately apparent Hope was in a desperate state and needed urgent medical treatment.

The cost of Hope's treatment was in excess of £1,000, and the local charity has launched a fundraiser to cover the unexpected costs www.justgiving.com/page/cats-protection-downham-hope

Stacey Ely, Centre Deputy Manager, said: "The first thing the team noticed was the smell, which was a clear indication the tail wound was badly infected. Hope was also underweight, at just 2.6kg, so she had obviously been struggling to fend for herself for a while.

"The vets advised, due to the severity of the infection, that amputating the majority of Hope's tail was necessary. We were advised to monitor her closely due to the possibility of the wound breaking down. She is now back with us at the centre, where we have made adjustments to her pen, giving her a low-sided litter tray and thick bedding, to make sure she is as comfortable as possible while she recovers. She has quickly adapted to life without a tail."

Hope is being fed "little and often" to help her put on much-needed weight and she is responding well to antibiotics and pain relief medication. She is making such remarkable progress that she will soon be ready to be adopted by owners who can aid her recovery from trauma.

She has shown herself to be a friendly feline, so it is likely she was once an owned cat but efforts to reunite her with an owner were thwarted as she was not microchipped.

Stacey added: "We are all so pleased to see Hope grow stronger every day and are confident she will go on to make someone a wonderful companion.

"Her operation and ongoing treatment have been a big, unexpected expense. We are grateful to anyone who feels able to donate to her fundraiser, ensuring we can continue to help more cats that need our help."

To find out more about the work of the West Norfolk Cat Centre, or to see cats available for adoption, visit www.cats.org.uk/westnorfolk