Tiny tortoiseshell shows fierce will to survive despite losing a paw

Tiny tortoiseshell shows fierce will to survive despite losing a paw

A young cat is ready for her life to change with a new loving home of her own after a savage start in life saw her lose a paw.

Tiny tortoiseshell-and-white Ivy was born as a stray in a garden near Apley Woods where a kind member of the public had been feeding her and contacted Cats Protection Telford & District for assistance with neutering. When one-year-old Ivy failed to return on the day the charity's volunteer team had arranged to collect her for her operation, nobody could have imagined what had happened to her.

Two weeks later, Ivy returned to the garden, badly injured and in desperate need of urgent veterinary care. Ivy's front right paw was missing, leaving protruding bone, she had burns on her head and was badly dehydrated.

Ivy's fosterer Holly Hadley says: "We don't know where Ivy went or what happened to her, but her paw was missing, leaving an open wound that had become severely infected, and her head was bald in patches as a result of what was believed to be chemical burns. She was an extremely poorly young cat and if she hadn't found her way back to the garden she would have died an awful painful death."

After an emergency assessment, the vet determined that the best chance for her survival was to amputate the rest of Ivy's injured leg as quickly as possible, uncertain that she would survive the surgery if she became weaker or the infection worsened.

Ivy made it through the surgery but struggled to come round from the anaesthetic due to her poor body condition and muscle loss after weeks of hardship and pain. She was kept warm, hydrated and was closely monitored by the vet team. Despite her critical condition, Ivy started to show her fighting spirit and was soon purring, seeking affection and trying to eat.

Holly adds: "Ivy is a true fighter; we were all desperately waiting to hear how her surgery went. She was initially a little wobbly as she healed but she quickly got used to only having three legs.

"She has adapted brilliantly and now plays, jumps and acts like any other cat. Now we're ready to find her a home of her own where she can enjoy the playful relaxed life of a young cat that she has missed out on while living outside and struggling to survive."

Ivy's treatment and after-care cost the volunteer group just under £2,000 and they have created a JustGiving page for anyone who would like to help them cover the costs, with anything raised above the total going to help the other cats in their care: www.justgiving.com/page/ivysordeal

Ivy is understandably initially wary of humans and a little shy so will need a patient home where she can settle at her own pace and be given the time she needs to come out of her shell and show the loving affectionate side that has blossomed in care.

To find out more about Ivy and other cats needing homes at Cats Protection Telford & District visit www.cats.org.uk/telford