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Guest post by “Alley Cat” Al Chernoff, the Philadelphia animal rescuer of Rescue Ink fame.
When last I wrote I told the story of Desmal the cat who was saved by a fire. During the month of October as we celebrate Feral Cat Day / month. I thought this would be a perfect time to tell Fluffy’s story.
A few years ago at work I had to move into a new office in different building which is at Phila International Airport. Several homeless cats started coming around for food. They were all females and the building is on a pretty remote location. During that time one of the cats died after being hit by a vehicle. I called her Black and White. Another cat I named Fluffy; she is a black and white also. She kept coming by everyday for food. We built her shelters and feeding stations. Day after day, week after week, month after month, rain, sun, frigid cold, in the snow we always shoveled a path to her bowls so she would always have access to food. Fluffy kept coming for her meals and fresh water.
Over the last year she started spending more time around our work building, often hanging out and sleeping under work vehicles. We would check before starting any trucks. She would also walk right in front of me while looking back to meow for me to hurry up as we went to feed her, along with an occasional visit into my office to remind me to fill the bowls.
A couple of months ago I was shocked and amazed as she let me pet her. I decided it was time to TNR her. I set a trap and within minutes I had her. I took her to a local low cost spay clinic. I expected a call to pick her up. Sadly, I received a call to recommend euthanasia as unknown by my she was very jaundiced. After her fur was shaved she was found to have very yellow skin, gums and inner ears.
I picked her up and rushed Fluffy to my regular Veterinary Hospital. Fluffy spent a week hospitalized, ass her liver and bloodstream values were very high. Not good.
Next, Fluffy moved into a spare bedroom in my home where she received her 7 medications a day, unlimited food, a warm bed instead of the rock she once slept on and all the love she wanted.
A couple of weeks later her liver values were still high so we went for an ultrasound, where she was found to have a chronic inflamed liver. Fluffy is eating great , grooming, full of love and loved as we wait for her next blood text.
She is truly a sweet lucky cat and I’m thankful she allowed me to save her….
Fluffy had more bloodwork this week. The results were now pretty normal for her blood levels. Her skin, ears, and gums are completely normal in color. She was very yellow when I trapped her, butI didn’t know she was yellow ’till she was shaved for spaying. The doctor thought she was about a week or 2 from death. Her liver values have also dropped. They were 1950 now down to 1600. Hopefully they will continue going down. She is finishing up her last antibiotic and she continues on a supplement and steroids. In a few weeks she will be retested.
I still have Fluffy in a back bedroom, though if I walk next to her she will explore around. My cats Jack and Sophie who are in the house are not too cat friendly. I may move her down to my family room or my bedroom soon. I don’t think Jack and Sophie will accept her.
She is very sweet. She loves being petted. She spends much of her time looking out the window. If I look at her and talk gently she starts kneading right away, without being petted. She is eating terrific and she gained 1/4 pound since last checkup. Which is about 3/4 pound total since I trapped her. In the last couple of weeks she started to meow from her room every morning about 530 for breakfast. Which sure makes me smile. Even at 530. 🙂
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