SOUTH CAROLINA RESCUE
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FIGGY’S STORY 
 
We got a plea from one of our rescue partners in South Carolina, to help with a critical kitten.  Our local Animal Control had taken in a 7-week-old girl, with a badly broken left foreleg and a damaged, possibly fractured or dislocated, right shoulder.  This poor soul had no working front legs, and needed assistance with everything - eating, drinking, using the litter tray.  Round the clock care, and constant clean up.  The injuries were too severe for the shelter vet to correct.
 
Our rescue partner was willing to step up for the daily care, and nursing assistance and Save Our Strays stepped up for financial and mental support.  Figgy was brought into the fold, seen immediately by our vet and evaluated.
 
As she was in poor physical condition, and v ery underweight for her age, the vet determined that she needed a week on good food, heat and antibiotic/pain management support to prepare her for potential orthopedic surgery.  It became readily apparent that the right leg, with its swelling, discoloration and temperature, was not going to be salvageable. The foot hardened, and blackened and continually got caught under poor Figgy as she tried to manage.  The left leg was stabilized so that it could be used to hold her up as she ate and used the litter pan.
 
Surgery day arrived, the planned ortho surgery became an amputation and the other fractured leg, previously stabilized, was knitting and calcifying on its own.  Figgy came through the amputation surgery like a little warrior, and recovered in a soft bed, with heat and pain meds. She went home to our rescue partner for post-operative nursing care, and monitoring.  Figgy has never looked back.  She ate warmed canned food immediately upon returning to the rescue, snuggled against her heated rice sock and just began to heal and move forward.
 
Figgy remained on cage rest at the rescue for 6 weeks, and was medically discharged on September 10th, with her fractured leg now completely healed.  She will be getting a new little roommate this week so that she has someone to grow up with, and learn to become a well-rounded kitten.  Her new litter mate, Rory, is about 3 weeks younger, but appropriately sized for her age.  Figgy is very small for her age, so this should work out perfectly for both.
 
Both kittens will need their vetting completed, appropriate vaccines, spay, microchips, etc, to be campaigned for their forever homes.  Save Our Strays appreciates any financial help you may be able to give.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESCUE

​COCOA BEAN AND DOUBLE STUFF
 
We were recently contacted by one of our foster moms.  An adult cat, a gorgeous long-haired black beauty, turned up in their yard and was seeking attention, and affection from the foster’s youngest child.  The moment her daughter went out into the yard, the cat sped immediately over to her crying, and rubbing around her ankles.
 
The cat would not allow our foster mom near and would run off, and stand back every time she went out to try to interact.  As soon as she would move to a safe distance, the cat would return to the child.  After several days of this activity, the cat brought a 7 to 8-week-old, black and white kitten to the child.  The kitten was very shy, and stayed a respectful distance.  It was observed that the adult cat was mothering the kitten and allowing it to suckle.
 
Traps were loaned to the foster, and the two renegades were caught and brought inside.  They were picked up by our rescue partner, and taken to an open foster, who works as a veterinary technician.
 
Both cat, and kitten were wormed, treated for fleas and tested for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus.  Both were negative for each.  They were brought to the vet clinic, and the staff worked with them every day to accustom them to be handled, and to overcome their fears.
 
Spay day arrived for the adult cat, named Cocoa Bean.  To everyone’s surprise, Cocoa Bean was not Double Stuff’s mother.  She was actually a He.  Spay turned into neuter, and all records were adjusted!
 
We think it is very likely that Cocoa Bean could very well be an older sibling.  In any case, these two are very bonded, and will be campaigned for adoption as a bonded pair of brothers.  Double Stuff needs to finish his vetting, i.e.: remaining vaccine series and neuter/microchip, and then these boys will be interviewing potential adopters.
Things are not always what they seem, and in rescue, we are constantly fading back to punt.  Save Our Strays, in stepping up for these two, has learned that there is always something new to learn!