Helfer Wellness Fund Blog

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2010-04-21T11:49:00.001-07:00

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Healing Molly's Fractured Hip

2010-01-03T22:05:00.000-08:00

Molly is a 16-year-old calico who receives fluids and medication daily for kidney disease, a common disorder of aging in cats. A couple of months ago, Molly lost her balance and fell from a height of about 8 feet, fracturing her hip. Such a fall probably wouldn't have been a problem for a younger cat, but Molly's bones may be more brittle due to her advanced age.

In order to allow her hip to heal, she has been undergoing cage rest for a couple of months. She is confined to one of our smaller, single-level cages; however, we try to make this period of her life more pleasant by offering her plenty of attention and special treats. We hope that her next set of x-rays will show that sufficient healing has taken place, and that she can be set free.

Velcro Recovers from Ailment

2010-01-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

Velcro, the 15-year-old stray that we took in last summer, developed a fever and wasn't able to eat. Veterinary x-rays showed a buildup of gas in his abdomen and bloodwork indicated that he was fighting off an infection. With sanctuary staff administering antibiotics and fluids, he has recovered nicely in a room that is dedicated to seniors.

Houdini's Dental Problems are Fixed

2010-01-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

Houdini (at left with a friend), an 8-year-old friendly boy who came to the sanctuary as a feral kitten, became very thin. Our veterinarian's examination revealed that he had developed severe dental problems and 7 teeth had to be extracted.

Houdini is much more comfortable now. He has a terrific appetite and has regained almost all of the lost weight.

Treatment for Shadow's Megacolon

2010-01-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

Our largest and oldest black male developed a condition called megacolon, which causes severe constipation, vomiting and extreme discomfort. Left untreated, this condition would eventually prove fatal to the animal.

Shadow was first diagnosed about 2 years ago when he was unable to eat and lost a considerable amount of weight. Following a series of enemas at the vet clinic, he was put on a special diet, plus daily laxatives and medication. Now 15 years of age, Shadow has done extremely well on his treatment regimen, but he recently had a relapse that necessitated 3 additional days of care at the veterinary clinic.

Fully recovered, our big boy has resumed his favorite activity of assisting volunteers by sampling the food on every plate at feeding time. He's a big guy, and he's the boss!

Healing our Little Manx

2009-08-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

Lovable little Sweet Pea is one of the incontinent Manx cats that have a permanent home at our sanctuary. Born with a genetic defect, these cats have no control over their bowel or bladder and require special lifetime care.

Sweet Pea recently developed a bad urinary tract infection and bladder stones. In order to dissolve the stones, we have had to keep her on a special veterinary diet for 3 months. She has also needed a few rounds of antibiotics to battle the infection.

Thanks to the Helfer Wellness Fund, our little girl will soon be frolicking around the shelter as good as new.

Fergus

2009-08-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

Big, beautiful green-eyed Fergus has been living in the New AIDS House at the RAPS Sanctuary for a few years. Fergus developed a chronic problem with his ears that regular cleaning couldn't resolve, so he was taken to the vet for an ear flush. Upon examination, the vet determined that the cat had abnormal growths in his ears and what appeared to be an enlarged lymph node nearby.

A fine needle aspirate was done and sent to the lab for biopsy to determine if the lymph node was cancerous. We were thrilled that the test came back negative and the growths have been determined to be polyps that are benign. Fergus is on antibiotics to eliminate the infection in his ears.

Dental Work for Randy

2009-08-07T16:27:00.001-07:00

Randy, a once-stray cat who is blind in one eye, had been fed in the bush for several years by a senior who volunteered for RAPS. A few years ago, we trapped him and brought him to the sanctuary. When he was neutered, we learned that he was FIV positive. Cats with the Feline AIDS virus have impaired immune systems and are very susceptible to dental problems.

A few weeks ago, Randy was taken to the vet and had 7 teeth extracted.

The need for dental work on our sanctuary cats is one of our largest veterinary expenses. We are very grateful to have the Helfer Wellness Fund in place to help with those costs.

Intensive Care Helps Amber Recover

2009-08-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sweet little Amber has lived at the cat sanctuary for most of her life. One day, a RAPS animal care staffer noticed that she had become unwell and transported her to our vet for diagnosis and treatment. Amber was severely jaundiced and bloodwork showed that she had developed lipidosis, a fatty liver condition that occurs when a cat stops eating.

Amber's prognosis was poor, but we had the vet put her on intravenous fluids and antibiotics for several days. She was then returned to the sanctuary where animal care staff provided continuous care, including subcutaneous fluid therapy, antibiotics, vitamins and hourly forcefeeding. Over several weeks of intensive care, Amber gradually began eating on her own and recovered completely.

Surrendered cats needed a little extra care

2009-07-22T21:52:00.001-07:00

Momo, a 13-year-old cat, was surrendered to RAPS by residents of the City of Richmond who refused to care for their long-time companion. That same day, another senior cat strayed through an open patio door of a Richmond home. Unfortunately, both cats required significant medical care. The stray, named Velcro, had an ingrown nail that was causing him an incredible amount of pain. Just a small surgery put him right. We had bloodwork done on both cats and learned that Momo requires lifelong medication for a thyroid problem. She is quite scared about being brought to a strange environment by her previous owners. The best place for a senior cat is a loving home, so we are hoping that these two animals will be adopted one day. To sponsor Momo or her friend, check out the information on sponsoring a cat.

Creampuff Watches over the Kittens

2009-07-03T08:20:00.001-07:00

Creampuff is a very special cat. She's quite elderly, and hence resides in a cozy living area where she can roam free. She lives in the Kitten Trailer at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.

Creampuff requires special care and medicine on a regular basis. Even though she doesn't live in a person's home, her purpose is to watch over the kittens and greets the visitors in the Kitten Trailer. And she does just that.

Thanks to the Helfer Wellness Fund, RAPS can care for cats like Creampuff who, despite the costly care they require, hold a much cherished position at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.

Coming Soon!

2009-06-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

Check back soon for updates on cats helped by the Helfer Wellness Fund.