Lucky: Sweet Survivor Kitty's Recovery

A cat who suffered severe chemical burns has made great progress toward healing since he was rescued in April. Here’s an update on Lucky.

Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) volunteer Bettina Markowitz sent us Lucky’s story on April 19. HART is a rescue group located in Fairfax Station, VA.

You can read the full original story in our post from April 19, Burned Kitty Lucky Gets Help, and the followup from April 27, Lucky, Kitty With Chemical Burns, Begins to Heal.

Late Friday April 12th, a HART volunteer received a horrific picture with no explanation from a friend who is a vet tech at a Virginia vet clinic. The picture was of a cat brought in by animal control after reportedly being hit by a car. The truth about his injuries would prove to be more horrific.

It soon became clear that this poor cat had been doused with acid and suffered second degree burns – at the hands of a human. His shoulders neck and the back of his head were raw and riddled with blisters. The acid had even crept into the corner of one eyelid. Most injured animals, when in that much pain, lash out at those trying to help. They can’t help it, it’s just nature’s defense mechanism for them. Not this guy. He was purring and kneading the towel the whole time his wounds were being cleaned.

Lucky came into HART’s care on April 19 and has been getting both love and medical attention since then. The group initially made updates about Lucky at their Facebook page, then gave Lucky his own Lucky – A Survivor Kitty Facebook page, which is devoted to Lucky and his recovery, with some updates on other of the group’s cats.

In the past five weeks, Lucky has had procedures to close his wounds and to aid in the healing process from his burns. As we’ve seen with other cases of burned cats who are helped to heal, doctors need to deal with shrinking skin as burns heal.

Lucky: A Survivor Kitty, a video made by a caring HART volunteer to chronicle the beginning stages of Lucky’s journey to a new and better life.

Lucky is coming along very well, and he made a TV appearance yesterday with HART member Nancy Tarr. During the conversation about Lucky’s healing process, it was mentioned that Lucky will be available for adoption when he is healed. HART is hopeful that Lucky will be able to leave the hospital in a few weeks and complete his recovery in foster care.

HART thinks that Lucky lived on his own for much, if not all, of his life before he was hurt and ended up at the shelter. He was unneutered and had ear mites when found. Despite that, he is exceptionally friendly and cuddly, and well socialized.

Note: Lucky is called a ‘she’ in the introduction to the segment, which can be seen below, but is most definitely a ‘he’.

Bettina Markowitz sent us some recent photos of Lucky, which show the wonderful progress he has made. The last three photo collages at bottom show the progression of healing, without giving the most graphic view of the original extent of the wounds.

Bettina writes, “The support for Lucky has been wonderful. He has over 2600 followers on his page now. Apart from raising a lot of money online, people have actually stopped by Parkway Vet in Burke to drop off money towards his care. We are so grateful for the support that has allowed us to help this darling boy recover.”