A busy week for Donegal injured and sick cat rescues

It has been a busy week for Animals In Need’s (AIN) cat rescuers, with seven cats needing help, the majority of which had health issues.

Amongst them was a big kitten called Arianna.

At only seven months old she was found to be deaf, pregnant, limping and suffering from neurological issues.

Arianna has been at the vets since last Thursday undergoing tests and receiving treatment.

An adult tabby and white stray tomcat called Elliot was brought to the vets to be neutered, but there were complications when it was found that he had cryptorchidism, which meant he had a retained testicle.

He therefore required a far more complicated surgery than the usual neutering operation would involve.

However, Elliot is a trooper, and he is recovering well post-surgery, in his foster home.

Next in was Mateo, who had a very swollen, sore eye when he was rescued.

Mateo had showed up at a house along with his sister during the week and luckily they chose the right house as the owner was a cat lover who contacted AIN, who arranged to take the siblings into foster care.

As soon as the two cats arrived at AIN, Mateo was rushed straight to a vet, but sadly there was no chance to save Mateo’s eye and it had to be surgically removed.

Above: Three kittens rescued on St Patrick's Day

Mateo is recovering well and is being an incredibly good patient.

Yet another sick cat arrived on Monday; Lumi has a large umbilical hernia and is booked in for surgery.

There is good news regarding the first newborn rescued kittens of the year.

The two kittens had been abandoned by their mother when she was disturbed whilst giving birth.

Thankfully, a local woman had witnessed the events unfold and when it became clear that the mother cat was not returning, she brought the two kittens in overnight to keep them warm and they were transferred to AIN the following morning.

The kittens are now just over a week old and are thriving.

They have taken to being bottle-fed with special kitten milk formula and their fosterer is feeding them every three hours around the clock, which is an exhausting task, but is vital for their survival.

Meanwhile, two young, male hamsters have found new homes.

ABOVE: Mateo had to have his eye removed

It is important that hamsters are not kept in small cages. They require plenty of space in which to burrow, climb and run around, and both hamster boys have gone to fantastic homes where they will live in set-ups that provide life enrichment.

The dog rescuers continue to be extremely busy behind the scenes.

A number of dogs are waiting for their Pet Passports that will allow them to travel to new homes overseas.

It now takes a minimum of 30 days to complete all the requirements and paperwork to receive a Pet Passport, and with limited foster places available, this means that the movement of dogs can be slow.

If you would be interested in becoming a cat or dog fosterer for AIN, please contact the charity for further information.

Food, bedding and veterinary care are covered by AIN, so if you have the space and some free time and can offer plenty of TLC to a rescued animal or two, please get in touch.

AIN would like to say a huge thank you to Daytona Haulage for their help in getting a new container into position. This will make AIN’s work easier and provide much needed additional space.

Finally, AIN’s Charity Shop in Donegal Town is having a week long sale of Buy One Get One Free on all clothes, shoes, and handbags in the store.

New stock is added daily, so why not pop in and pick up a bargain, whilst supporting the rescued animals. All profits go directly towards the animals’ care.

To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment, and vaccinations.

For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.

For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188.