We have had two cats come into our care at 9 Lives that were both welfare cases. Why did they come to us? Because the major, well funded rescues in Perth that take cats wouldnt!
The situation for cats in Perth at the moment is dismal. In the last 2-3 months only 2 other rescues have taken in cats other than us. These have both been small rescues with limited resources that have been as full as the rest of us but they took them anyway because they were in desperate need.
My question is why? Why are the smaller rescues like ourselves doing more than the bigger, well known and better resourced rescues are doing in Perth?
Let me explain:
Case One
First there was Gypsy. It was the Foundation Day public holiday and we recieved a phone call from a couple in South Perth who were walking into the city from where they live. They came across a white cat that they had seen wandering the streets for sometime but hadnt been able to approach until now. They described this cat as having very badly infected eyes and that they had called the various other rescues in Perth and the council and that none of them would do anything with the cat. We werent too far away at the time and although we are so full with cats that we are bursting at the seams we new that by the description of the cats eyes we couldnt just leave her on the streets.
Gypsy, as we later named her, was a friendly girl with sun damaged ears, nasty fleas and worst of all, eyes that were oozing green and yellow gunk to the point she could barely open them to even see us! So off we went with her because even though we had no carers to place her with at the time, we knew she could not be left in this state. We cleaned up her eyes, put in some eye drops and started her on antibiotics until we could get her seen by a vet to the next day.
Gypsy was examined by our vet and it was found that she had Entropian on both her lower eyelids which means her eye lashes are rolling in and rubbing on the eye causing ulcers and infection. This needs surgery to be corrected but we also needed them cleared up a little first. So the eye drops 6-8 times a day started. Gyspy didnt mind one bit and within 24hrs she could actually open her eyes and see us! Thankfully one of our carers put her hand up to care for Gyspy so now she is in good hands. Her surgery however along with a much needed dental is going to cost us $850.
Case Two
Sal as he is now being called by his carer was a cat that belonged to an intellectually disabled man along with his 2 kelpie dogs. This man had to be put into a home and so his sister set about finding homes for the animals. She was told by all the rescues to ring back in a month or so to see if they had any room as they couldnt take any more animals at the moment. So she waited a month and was again told the same thing. This time she also contacted us but we didnt have any room either so we offered to advertise the cat for her and make enquiries with the rescues we had connections with who take dogs.
We had no luck and it weighed on my mind heavily for several weeks as she had said that she was only getting over there to feed the animals every 2nd or 3rd day and the picture she emailed me of the cat showed him to be thin and in poor condition. I urged her to call the RSPCA and say the cat was a welfare case and that he needed attention. Whether she called them again or not the cat was then posted last week on Facebook as needing urgent care because the ladies who had come to take the dogs rescued the cat because of his poor condition.
Well now I knew we had to step in whether we had no room or not because this cat was a welfare issue. Sal went into care with a wonderful foster carer in our program and thanks to his rescuers and his current carer he is putting on weight, is no longer flea ridden, has been brushed and de knotted to perfection and is a very smoochy cat! The problem is that when he was checked by our vet she found what she thought might be an abdominal mass, sun damaged ears, a heart murmur and possible Hyperthryroidism (over active thyriod). We need blood tests to confirm this last one but it is treatable if he has it and he is 9 years old so hes no spring chicken! The abdominal mass however is an issue and will be confirmed on this coming Friday. It may be slow growing and mean that Sal has several good years in him still so we arent giving up hope on him yet while he's happy and comfortable.
(This photo was not taken by us as we would never hold a cat in this manner)
So, where were the other big rescues that were contacted about taking these cats in these clear welfare cases?
They are full.
Well so are we and we still helped a suffering animal!
We took what little money we have raised to care for the cats in our care and spent a great deal on their medical treatments.
I ask again. Where were the well known and well resourced rescues in Perth when they were asked to take these cats on?
Well in Gypies case it was a public holiday so its expected that all animals stop needing to be rescued or getting sick because we are suppossed to be on holiday.
Sorry but it doesnt work that way!
In Sal's case it was because they were all full. So animals that are neglected or suffering should continue to do so because they cant be squeezed in to see a rescue groups vet and either be put to sleep or given treatment.
Nope sorry! That excuse doesnt workfor me either!
All the smaller rescues such as 9 Lives work together to help the cats of Perth and although we are under resourced and just as full as everyone else, we still find a way to make room and help those cats who need it most like Gypsy and Sal.
I would love to praise the large, well known rescues of Perth for their hard work in animal welfare as they do alot for the animals they do take in but what about those they ignore? No you cant save them all but letting them suffer is also unacceptable!
Nat
Founder/Director
9 Lives Cat Rescue
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