Help Nova Breathe Easier After Aspiration Pneumonia

For more than five years, Nova has known what it means to be safe, but getting there took an incredible amount of patience and trust.

Nova was first rescued after a horrifying call about a man trying to hurt a mother cat and her newborn kittens after she gave birth on his porch. A volunteer rushed over and was able to get Nova and her five babies to safety. All five kittens eventually found homes, but their frightened mama was left waiting.

Nova wasn't an immediately social or trusting cat. After everything she had experienced, she was scared, and she needed someone willing to give her time rather than give up on her. Rags to Riches saw past that fear, took Nova in, and slowly earned her trust.

More than five years later, Nova is still very much a cat who appreciates having a safe place of her own. She'll venture out for her zoomies before happily retreating back to her crate, and she has a favorite bed that she loves so much that she gets genuinely upset whenever it disappears into the wash.

Recently, however, something changed. Nova became unusually picky about eating. Since she had undergone dental care last year, it wasn't immediately clear what was bothering her. A veterinary visit brought a surprising diagnosis: Nova had aspiration pneumonia along with bronchitis.

Aspiration pneumonia occurs when material such as food, liquid, or vomit enters the lungs instead of being swallowed normally, which can cause significant inflammation and infection. Nova had given very little outward indication that anything so serious was happening.

Her veterinary care has included bloodwork, diagnostic imaging and X-rays, sedation, specialist radiology review, antibiotics, nausea medication, and additional supportive treatment. Thankfully, Nova has started feeling better, but her care isn't finished yet.

Veterinarians have also discovered that Nova needs another dental procedure. Before she can safely undergo anesthesia for her dental care, her pneumonia and bronchitis need to be treated and her respiratory health needs to improve.

After everything Nova survived before she was rescued, she deserves the chance to continue receiving the medical care she needs while surrounded by the person who refused to give up on her all those years ago.

Please consider donating to Nova's Waggle campaign to help with the veterinary care she has already received and the treatment still ahead. Every donation helps with the cost of getting her lungs healthy again and preparing her for the dental care she still needs.