Carolina Cat Rescue
Campaigns
Cypress
Cypress is a two-month-old Tabby kitten in Raleigh, NC, who needs $1,600 for treatment of a bacterial bone infection.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Carolina Cat Rescue had one surprise after another! First, they narrowly saved a female cat at risk of being killed in a rural shelter. Then just two days after getting the cat into a foster home, another surprise: She had babies! "We didn't know she was pregnant," Karie K. with the rescue group tells Waggle. "She had six kittens all were doing great, then one named Cypress started limping and formed a lump on his wrist. It became very painful." The nonprofit rescue rushed him over to Companion Animal Hospital of Wakefield, fearing the worst; what if it was cancer? Soon they got yet another surprise: Cypress had an infection in his bone. "We were shocked," Karie says. "He underwent many very costly tests. Including X-rays, surgical removal of the tissue for testing, and cultures to see if there were fungal or bacteria issues. The tests revealed a dangerous bacteria settled in his bone, and he needs two months of treatment." Now the rescue is hoping for no more surprises as they treat Cypress and feels confident he will be a spunky, bouncy kitten very soon. With your help, they will be able to pay off his animal hospital bills which are pretty high! "He will need antibiotics twice a day for eight weeks and X-rays every 2-3 weeks to make sure the inflammation in the bone is decreasing," Karie says. "We are very hopeful that this treatment will cure the issue and he can return to be a happy, normal kitten, and we will then find him his forever family."
Bebe, Gigi, and Cici
Bebe, Gigi, and Cici are Domestic Shorthair kittens in Raleigh, NC, who needs $1200 for eye surgery.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Carolina Cat Rescue has a big goal, and they're optimistic you can help! All they want is for the three nearly blind kittens they saved: Bebe, Cici, and Gigi, to see the families that will eventually adopt them. The rescue realized saving Bebe, Cici and Gigi would result in significant medical bills. "It was clear the kittens were suffering in the shelter, and we knew upfront the cost to save them would stretch our small budget," Karie says. "They had active eye infections, major swelling, and obvious corneal scarring that was affecting their ability to see. But once you looked past their obvious impairment, what we could see was loving kittens who needed a chance. I said, 'kittens are so resilient, we have to give them a try." The kittens are now in a foster home, and the eye medication they are receiving has helped decrease the inflammation and fight off the infection caused by the herpes virus. Karie is hopeful surgery performed by the veterinary medical team at Animal Eye Care Associates will help remove much of the scarring and give them all a second chance to see. "We are committed to helping them re-gain as much sight as possible. The hope is one day they will be able to see the love of their new family," Karie says.
Luke
Luke is an Orange Tabby in Raleigh, NC, who needs $450 for Eye Surgery.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Luke and his three siblings were rescued from a rural North Carolina shelter. They were sick with an upper respiratory infection, eye infections, and severe diarrhea. They were underweight and very sick. The shelter is unable to help with medical issues and they were due to be euthanized, so we picked them up and placed them in our foster care program. Luke is a tiny kitten. He is very loving, but he is struggling as his eyes seem to hurt him. He was not as playful with his mates, not eating a lot, he was over his upper respiratory illness, but it seems his eyes were never fully opened. After 2 weeks of eye drops and no improvement, he went back to the vet. The vet confirmed there is something very wrong with his eyes, but she did not know exactly what and contacted a specialist at North Carolina State Veterinary Medicine to see if they could help identify his issues. The vet at NC State determined he has a significant problem called Upper Eye Lid Agenesis. Dr. Davidson explained this is a complicated issue and his only hope is a surgery to repair his eyelids. Luke's eyelids did not fully form and he will need a graft from his lip tissue to add eyelid tissue. Currently, he is too small for the surgery and we need to wait until he is older. For now, he will need an eye lid injection to roll the lashes away from his corneal to prevent damage. This surgery is very expensive and much more than we can fund without help. But without the surgery, Luke will suffer for life with eyelids that are not formed properly and causing corneal damage. Please help Carolina Cat Rescue give him the chance at a pain free life.
Cheddar
Cheddar is an Orange Tabby in Raleigh, NC, who needs $450 for Juvenile Cobalamin Deficiency.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Cheddar and his twin Nacho could not be sweeter kittens. They had a terrible start to their little lives by ending up in a rural North Carolina shelter. But in April, they were saved by Carolina Cat Rescue and placed in foster care. Cheddar is a loving kitten who is a great snuggle buddy. He is a happy boy and successfully battled an upper respiratory after entering into our care. He was on the mend, but his foster mom started noticing that Nacho (his twin brother) was getting much bigger and Cheddar (although super hungry) was not gaining weight. We were not sure why he was hungry, eating like crazy, but staying the same weight. Cheddar is a special boy and we knew his situation was not normal. He was playful and happy but not growing and that was worrisome. We contacted our vet - Dr. Chris Kelly at Companion Animal Hospital and took him in for an exam. He was thin. His brother weighed 8 ounces more than he did and we needed to figure this out. Cheddar was tested for parasites and panleukopenia - both results were normal. The vet then suggested a mal-digestion profile to look for abnormalities in his digestive system. He also underwent a test for his pancreas. The tests results gave us the answer we needed - he has Juvenile Cobalamin Deficiency. His body is not absorbing vitamin B12. B12 is an essential vitamin for cats immune system, nervous system, digestive tract, for healthy cognitive function. Cheddar started receiving weekly B12 injections. He will need to undergo more testing to see if his body is able to absorb B12 from the food he eats. We are happy that we found out what was wrong & we could help him thrive. The test was costly but worth it to save his life. Please help Carolina Cat Rescue raise the money necessary to cover Cheddar's medical bill.
Whiskers
Whiskers is a 1-year-old Gray Short Hair in Raleigh, NC, who needs $500 for dermatitis.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Whiskers was dropped off at a rural North Carolina shelter. He was very thin, his hair was sparse in spots, and he was covered in fleas and flea dirt. He immediately got a bath. Most cats hate baths but he tolerated it like a champ. I think he felt better getting the flea dirt off him. He seemed like a new cat. Whiskers is very loving and easy going. Whiskers is a foster cat and was placed in a room with another foster cat. He was so gentle and nice he won over the current foster cat right away. Normally, she hated other cats, but seemed to fall in love with him almost instantly. She groomed him and snuggled up next time and even though she was bossy, Whiskers just went along with it. Whiskers interactions with other cats is adorable. He is gentle and loving toward other cats. If another foster kitty would want to take his food, he just sat back and waited. He is playful with other cats, but also enjoys time just laying around on a sunny spot in the room. He is very loving towards humans. If I sat down, very shortly thereafter, he would be on my lap. Whiskers was doing great, but all of a sudden he started scratching himself uncontrollably. In the span of a few hours he went from a normal kitty to one who seemed miserable and itchy. We immediately called the vet and took in him for an exam. Since he came from a rural shelter, he could have been exposed to a number of parasites, fungus, or bacteria, so the vet tested for several conditions. He was placed on medication for his skin abrasions & itch. It took several months & vet appointments to figure out how to control his skin disorder. We are a small cat rescue and the bills quickly added up to $500. This is a big bill for us, but Whiskers is worth it. Please donate so that Carolina Cat Rescue can continue to save sweethearts like Whiskers!
Bebe, Gigi, and Cici
Bebe, Gigi, and Cici are Domestic Shorthair kittens in Raleigh, NC, who needs $2,000 for eye surgery.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Carolina Cat Rescue has a big goal, and they're optimistic you can help! All they want is for the three nearly blind kittens they saved: Bebe, Cici, and Gigi, to see the families that will eventually adopt them. The sibling trio ended up in a shelter at risk of being euthanized because the facility was full. Karie K. from the rescue tells Waggle the moment the group saw the sweet kittens, they knew they needed help, "It was heartbreaking. They were tiny, about four weeks old. They could not see and were struggling to find the food in the shelter. Older kittens were pushing them away." The rescue realized saving Bebe, Cici and Gigi would result in significant medical bills. "It was clear the kittens were suffering in the shelter, and we knew upfront the cost to save them would stretch our small budget," Karie says. "They had active eye infections, major swelling, and obvious corneal scarring that was affecting their ability to see. But once you looked past their obvious impairment, what we could see was loving kittens who needed a chance. I said, 'kittens are so resilient, we have to give them a try." The kittens are now in a foster home, and the eye medication they are receiving has helped decrease the inflammation and fight off the infection caused by the herpes virus. Karie is hopeful surgery performed by the veterinary medical team at Animal Eye Care Associates will help remove much of the scarring and give them all a second chance to see. "We are committed to helping them regain as much sight as possible. The hope is one day they will be able to see the love of their new family," Karie says.
Bandit
Bandit is a Domestic Shorthair kitten in Raleigh, NC, who needs $350 for urgent care.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Bandit first came to Carolina Cat Rescue from a rural county shelter. He went to a foster home and seemed like he was doing well, then after his neuter surgery, he went downhill. "After a week after his operation, his foster noticed he wasn't eating as well, he seemed depressed, he had not gained weight in several days. She was trying to syringe feed him," Karie K., with the rescue, tells Waggle. "We were very worried." The rescue got Bandit to Companion Animal Hospital right away. The medical team ran many tests and eventually determined he had failure to thrive syndrome. There's no real treatment for the syndrome, but if Bandit continued not to eat, he would die. "Kittens who do not eat are in severe danger of low blood sugar, malnutrition, dehydration, and death," Karie says. So the rescue and Bandit's foster mom launched a full-on effort to push Bandit through. "We started him on a regimen of vitamins, baby food, fancy food, expensive food, canned food, anything to get him to eat," Karie adds. "We syringe fed him, gave him high-calorie supplements and fluids. It was touch and go." His foster mom is monitoring his weight and working hard to keep him alive. The nonprofit group is now hoping generous pet lovers will help donate to pay for Bandit's veterinary bills, including his tests, medications, and vet visits.
Van Morrison
Van Morrison is a 5-year-old Orange & White Short Hair in Raleigh, NC, who needs $825 for Tooth Extraction and Dermatitis.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Van Morrison is a special boy. He is outgoing, loving, playful and happy. But that was not always the case. Van Morrison was saved from high-kill rural shelter in North Carolina. He arrived very sick, underweight, and malnourished. He had a large wound on the side of his neck and he received months of medical care to get him stable. Van Morrison is the life of the party. He loves to play and loves human companionship. He is very affectionate and loving. So after a long medical illness, it was very unfortunate that he developed ringworm (a fungal infection) at the site of the wound on his neck. The ringworm rapidly spread and Van lost most of his hair. He was itchy and miserable and the worst part was he was in a quarantine room at the vets office. With little human interaction. After 60 days in the vets office, he went into a room by himself at a foster home. There he received topical treatments, regular baths and love. He was close to getting the home he was promised when he left the shelter. After 8 long months of battling ringworm, he was very close to being ready for adoption. But luck again was not on his side, at his final vet check for his skin, the vet noticed he had a really bad dental issue that needed addressed right away. He was in pain with a broken tooth. He had to wait once again for his furever home until after an expensive dental procedure. Van Morrison was lucky to leave the shelter alive, by August most cat rescues are completely full. We could not leave him behind and committed to helping him. Helping him cost quite a bit more than we expected and we could use monetary help to pay his medical bills.
Arya
Arya is a Shorthaired Tuxedo kitten in Raleigh, NC, who needs $500 for emergency vet care.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Arya is a foster kitty in Carolina Cat Rescue who had a major medical crisis due to an infection that caused a fever, lethargy, anemia, and lack of appetite. She was very sick. Arya was saved when she was 2 weeks old. She & her two brothers were dropped off at a poor, rural county shelter in NC, right after our volunteer had left the shelter for the 2-hour drive back to Raleigh. The shelter staff called and frantically asked us to come back. A box of tiny kittens just arrived & they were starving. Carolina Cat Rescue volunteer, Erika, turn around & headed back to save 3 more lives. She was given a box of kittens who were tiny (10 ounces each) and crying with hunger. The good news is that we had a nursing mom who accepted the babies into her care. She is a survivor and her ordeal did remind us of the phrase from Game of Thrones - “…there is only one thing we say to death -- ‘not today.’’ We helped Arya cheat death twice, she is an amazing kitten who we hope will thrive and live a full, long, adventurous life. Arya is such a special girl. She is fearless in new situations, she cuddles when she is sleepy, she purrs like a champion, she looks lovingly at her foster mom with those big expressive eyes. We wanted to make sure her life is the best it can be and we rushed her to the vet even though it is not always clear how we will raise the money to pay for care. All was going great for 2 weeks, then Arya crashed. Kittens crash hard & fast. Her foster mom found her one morning sitting alone in the corner & shivering and knew she needed vet care. She was barely responsive & not eating. She was rushed to the vet for lifesaving care & tests. After bloodwork & examine the vet said she had anemia, a fever, an infection, and diarrhea.
Bug
Bug is a one-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat in Raleigh, NC, who needs $1,800 for emergency hospitalization.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Bug has cheated death twice. First, she made it out of a high kill shelter alive when Carolina Cat Rescue saved her. And most recently, she bravely battled a digestive track issue that left her gravely ill. "She started acting lethargic, and the foster noticed she was leaving bright red puddles of blood on the floor," Karie K., the rescue's director, tells Waggle. "She was dehydrated, vomiting, and could barely lift her head." Karie picked up Bug and brought her to a specialty animal hospital. "The vet said, 'We have never seen anything like this.' The medical team at BluePearl Pet Hospital ran diagnostics, X-rays, and bloodwork," Karie adds. She says Bug's veterinarians believe the poor cat has stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome. She had been through a lot: The trauma of being taken to a crowded, loud animal shelter and then transferred to a new foster home likely really got to her. Bug was already in rough shape when Carolina Cat Rescue first saved her. "She was shut down and she stayed hunkered down in one position. She was scared. We know her life has probably not been the best. She's missing teeth, and her hair was thin and dull," Karie says. Bug was hospitalized for days on IV fluids and antibiotics. Finally, she started to pull through. Now Bug is stable, out of the ER, and doing well-eating prescription food. She transformed into a beautiful, silver-haired, sleek cat with striking eyes. Karie says since Bug is now feeling better, her personality has really started to shine, "Bug talks all the time, and she wags her tail. She swishes it back and forth. She's been a trooper through all of this. She's very chatty and playful and outgoing." Bug will be up for adoption soon in the Raleigh, NC, and Southern, VA areas. The rescue also adopts out some cats in NH through a rescue partner. If anyone is interested in adopting Bug, they will have to commit to feeding her the prescription diet she needs and keeping an eye on her tummy issues. The rescue is thrilled Bug is better, but they need assistance paying off her hospital bills. They hope animal lovers will come to Bug's rescue a third time and donate to help. "We are really grateful to have saved her. She was on death's door," Karie says. "We are so happy we can give her a chance at having a happy life."