Happy 100, Winter!
Happy 100 Winter!
With a Spring in her step here is Winters Tail.
It’s now exactly 100 days exactly since I was presented with this lifeless little scrap at Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary that was minutes from death, unconscious, so cold her temperature was undetectable , blood glucose so low with goodness knew what injuries.
The way she arrived was certainly incompatible with life.
Over the last 100 we have pieced together a picture of her most serious health concerns and nursed her relentlessly.
❄️A serious head injury resulting in irreparable brain damage and blindness.
❄️2 broken limbs
❄️Seizures from the brain damage- likely to be on medication for the rest of her life to manage this.
❄️Left outside in sub zero temperatures and rain…. causing hypothermia, resulting in organ failure.
❄️Starvation- resulting in malnutrition, Dehydration and hypoglycaemia.
Up until a few weeks ago Winter remained gravely ill and did have multiple seizures a day … despite every day she was looking a little brighter.
Her temperature appears to have now stabilised as has her blood glucose levels.
Whilst Winter could not eat for the first 2 weeks she was happy to accept syringe feeding, very small amounts every 30 to 60 mins.
Winters mentation is much better and her seizures have now ” much reduced ” since starting her “magic medicine” 10 weeks ago and tweaking the doses.
Our Vet Team at Northcote Veterinary Surgery have been and continue to be bloody amazing.!!!
Unfortunately/ fortunately we had to prioritise saving her life over investigating her broken limbs as she has been too unwell to under go amputation of her seemingly irreparable broken leg…. miraculously… surgery was not necessary in the end and she is using all 4 legs perfectly well.
Winter remains on our Critical Care ward for 12 weeks and weaning her out of intensive care was a much longer process than we ever imagined.
We are continuing to monitor her around the clock both day and night… and we cannot believe how far she has come and that she is still with us.
The saddest part of Winters story so far is knowing that SOMEONE has done this to Winters. These injuries and presentations are not at all consistent with an accident.Winter has been badly abused in her first weeks of life.
Whilst Winters back story is very upsetting we now feel that we can finally celebrate her triumphs over many adversities… she is such a bright and happy little warrior.
Unfortunately due to the severe brain damage we do not know what the future will hold for Winter and her medical needs and mentation are constantly under review and being monitored both day and night.
Winter will be on medication for the rest of her life and due to all her complexities we have made the difficult decision that she will eventually join our SENSE Sanctuary big cat family at Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary.
Thank you to everyone who has donated towards Winters care and special food.
For the foreseeable future she will remain on Royal Canin Sensitivity Control pouches.
We will soon be launching a sponsorship programme for those wishing to Sponsor Winter and friends.