Help Althea, and other homeless strays!

Petite Althea was brought to PAWS from a town about 60 miles to the south of us: Attleboro, MA.  Thanks to a Facebook group called Masscats, many of our Massachusetts-based rescues share information about critical feline situations that need help.  We all have plenty to do to care for the cats in our own communities.  But, sometimes, the local groups are just out of resources.

This story about a desperate, pregnant kitty caught the attention of our Masscats coordinator—who is also a long-time board member and foster mom, among other things!  [In an all-volunteer organization, we tend to wear many hats!] Anyway, here is our volunteer’s description about meeting with another Masscats member regarding this cat (now named, Althea): 

“When I went to meet him with her, I couldn’t believe how tiny she was. I remember looking into the carrier, expecting to see a large pregnant kitty.  But much to my surprise, she was curled up in the back of the carrier, looking like an older kitten. My heart sank when I looked at her belly and confirm she did, indeed, seem to be pregnant and by the looks of her nipples, it was not her first pregnancy either.  

She was covered in scabs throughout her whole body and, since I was told she was living in very dirty conditions, I did not waste any time and applied flea treatment to her right away. 

As I combed through her fur when we got home, I realized what a sweet, docile little girl she was. She seemed to welcome the love and attention, but it almost seemed as though she was not used to it either. 

The vet confirmed my suspicions: she was pregnant with likely not her first litter and the scabs were a combination of flea dermatitis and scratching because she had a severe ear infection in both ears!  

It took her almost three weeks to try out a cat bed, always choosing to lie next to it but not in one—as though that too was a foreign concept to her. Now, she looks forward to our time together every time I came into her room and loves to lay right up against me as I brush her fur. She also finally started using her voice to greet us and beg for treats.

We just had our follow-up appointment with the vet and, while her ear infections have not completely cleared, they are 1,000 times better than they were. It is common for cats to have a harder time completely ridding themselves of ear infections. But, the best news is that she has gained over a pound in two weeks, thanks to good quality food (and lots of it)! I suspect her babies will be joining us in the next week or so."

Watch this challenge post, as well as our Facebook and Instagram accounts, for updates on Althea’s progress. 

In the meantime, any donation you can give would be much appreciated.  Please donate today to help Althea, her future babies, and all the other strays who need a safe haven and a new chance for a family of their own.