Do you guys remember Pippa? She was going to be one of Purrfect Companions TNR cases. BUT, when we finally trapped her mid August, after months of trying, she was ready to have kittens any day. Pippa arrived at Purrfect Companions VERY feral. You could not touch her without getting swatted, hissed and spat at. It was only a couple days after trapping Pippa that we realized something was very wrong. She was really sickly, to the point she would let us touch her (although reluctantly) so we rushed her to the emergency vet. It was determined that Pippa was quite anemic (26%) and would require a blood transfusion if she was to live. The vet didnt feel Pippa would even be able to deliver naturally due to how weak she was but she would likely die during a c-section as well. She felt the kittens were a big reason she was so sick. To pay what it would cost for a transfusion at the UOG was insane and we just couldnt afford it. We brought Pippa home and started sub q fluids and antibiotics but two days later I knew she was doing worse so I brought her into my own vet clinic where he red cell count was down to 13%. In a healthy cat it should be between around 30% and 53%. We were given a few options but the outcome wasnt great any way we looked at it. If we did the blood transfusion at that point, Pippa would probably be too weak to pull through but if we did the c-section to remove the kittens who were literally sucking the life out of her, she likely wouldnt pull through either. So, we opted to do the c-section and miraculously not only were all five kittens born alive (yet very tiny at about 55-60 grams each), but Pippa made it as well! We all agreed that given what a fighter Pippa was that we needed to at least try the blood transfusion. My wonderful vet clinic was kind enough to do the transfusion for us at a reduced price. So the next day Chocolate, a very special black kitty at Purrfect Companions, donated 45mls of blood to Miss Pippa and she made it through the transfusion and ate by herself for the first time in DAYS immediately after. The days following Pippas feral personality starting coming out. She would hiss and swat more and I was happy to see it because I knew that meant she was starting to feel better! Over the next week Pippas red count started to slowly climb and that was positive because we were worried it would drop again. The Doxycyline was definitely working. However, Pippa appeared quite bloated so I asked my vet to do an abdominal tap as I was concerned about FIP. Thankfully it wasnt, but it was peritonitis (pus was in the abdomen). I knew this was not good news and my vet didnt seem too optimistic either. It was recommended that she be put on stronger antibiotics and that they go in, flush her out, coat her insides with antibiotics and put in a drainage tube and flush her out for a few days. But, this would cost another $800+ and we had already raised and spent over $1000. I was heart broken. I asked what the strongest antibiotic Pippa could have was and my vet prescribed Baytril and Prednisone, both high dose. I felt we needed to at least give Pippa a chance, even though I was well aware (from doing research) that her prognosis was not good without the flushing. I was prepared to put Pippa out of her misery if it came to it. But another week passed and Pippas red count continued to climb (30%) and she continued to gain weight. We did another abdominal tap and NO pus was extracted! We opted to continue the antibiotics and steroids for four weeks. Pippa finished her Baytril and Pred on September 25th and her Doxycyline a week later. Its been two weeks and Pippa seems to be doing great (touch wood). We have worked very hard to gain Pippas trust and even now she gets scared if you try to pick her up, talk to loud, move too fast, etc. A couple days ago Pippa came out of my bedroom and into the living room (where we set up her kennel - her safe place). It was time to wean her kittens and we wanted to take the next step with Pippa, getting her used to our home. We knew it would be very unlikely that she would ever be adoptable. She trusts very few people and is quite nervous. I was so surprised to see her immediately rub up against Emmet (through the kennel) and within about two days, she was already starting to step out of the kennel by herself! She is enjoying attention from Jerry and myself and is very rarely hissing anymore. The kids know they cannot touch her unless we are with them but Pippa is not even scared when the dogs come up to her anymore! THIS is one of the reasons I love doing rescue SO much. It is SO rewarding. Pippa, a (approx) 5 year old feral kitty who beat the odds not once, not twice, but THREE times now knows what it means to love and be loved. And she would not be here today if it wasnt for the generosity of our members and volunteers. She has come SUCH a long way. All but one of her beautiful kittens has been reserved as well. Please consider donating to Purrfect Companions. We DESPERATELY need help to cover some of the veterinary bills that have accumulated. I have set up a GoFundMe but am also accepting cheques, cash and etransfers as well. Pippas story is just ONE of many. :)
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 02:51:56 +0000
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