Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
About
Our mission is to save and improve the lives of the most vulnerable animals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Thrifted Kittens aims to help homeless pets who need us most.
Campaigns
Wall-e
Help This Senior Boy Recover From Major Surgery
Milwaukee, WI • Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue
This 8-year-old orange boy was facing euthanasia when Thrifted Kittens Rescue decided his story wasn't going to end at the shelter. Wall-e was at risk because of both medical and behavioral concerns. But when the rescue took him into their care on July 14, they quickly discovered just how much help this senior boy was going to need. Wall-e arrived with several health challenges. He is FIV positive, has kidney disease, struggles with skin issues, and was battling a severe upper respiratory infection that required plenty of supportive care. Then came an even more frightening complication. After Wall-e was neutered, he developed a severe hernia, and his rescuers learned that his bladder had ended up in his abdomen. Wall-e had to return to surgery to repair the hernia and get everything back where it belonged. For a senior cat already dealing with multiple underlying medical conditions, it was another major hurdle added to an already difficult start. Thankfully, Wall-e has had Thrifted Kittens Rescue beside him through it all, making sure he received the surgery, supportive care, and continued veterinary attention he needed. And underneath all of those medical concerns is a wonderfully opinionated orange cat. Wall-e is lovingly described as a "grumpy love bug," and he has even decided that one of the resident cats is worthy of his friendship. After everything he's experienced, he is finally getting the opportunity to settle in and show the personality behind all those shelter notes and diagnoses. His journey isn't finished yet. Wall-e will need a kidney recheck before he can be cleared for adoption, and his rescue will continue monitoring his health as he recovers. Donations to Wall-e's campaign will help with his hernia repair surgery, treatment and supportive care for his severe URI, kidney monitoring, and the other veterinary needs that have come with giving this complicated senior boy a second chance. Wall-e may have arrived with a long list of reasons others could have passed him by, but Thrifted Kittens Rescue chose to see the cat underneath it all. Please consider helping with the medical care that has given this grumpy little love bug the opportunity to keep writing his story.
Goldfish
Goldfish Needs Two Surgeries for a Second Chance
Milwaukee, WI • Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue
This happy little kitten nearly lost his life before he ever had the chance to find a family. Goldfish arrived at a local animal control as a stray with significant medical needs. One of his legs ended in a small nub, and he was also suffering from an infected, underdeveloped eye caused by microphthalmia. With no one to take responsibility for the extensive care ahead of him, Goldfish was facing euthanasia. Then Thrifted Kittens Rescue stepped in. Goldfish came into their care on July 1, and at only about 5 months old, he has already needed more medical treatment than most cats experience in a lifetime. His damaged leg continued to be a concern and ultimately required amputation surgery, which Goldfish underwent last week. Now he is preparing for another major procedure. Because his abnormal eye has continued to become infected, Goldfish will undergo an enucleation to have the affected eye removed next week. Two surgeries so close together have created a significant veterinary expense for his rescue, but Goldfish doesn't seem particularly interested in letting any of it slow him down. He is an incredibly happy, social little guy who has never met a stranger. He gets along with the other cats in his foster home, even when they aren't quite as enthusiastic about his friendship, and continues approaching life with the confidence of a kitten who has no idea he is supposed to be different. Soon, Goldfish will be navigating the world with three legs and one eye. For now, though, his focus needs to remain on his medical care and recovery before he can begin searching for a forever home. Donations to Goldfish's campaign will help Thrifted Kittens Rescue with the cost of his leg amputation, upcoming eye removal, and related veterinary care. Goldfish was given a chance when his future looked uncertain. Please consider helping his rescue cover the medical care that is giving this joyful little kitten the opportunity to heal and eventually find the family he deserves.
Hullabaloo
After Months of Illness, Hullabaloo Landed in the ER
Milwaukee, WI • Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue
Just when this little guy was finally getting ready to put months of illness and isolation behind him, an unexpected medical emergency sent him straight to the ER. Hullabaloo came into Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue on June 15 from a colony where illness had taken a devastating toll. He arrived alongside his bonded companion, who sadly later passed away from GI lymphoma. Hullabaloo was dealing with serious health challenges of his own. He developed ringworm and a severe upper respiratory infection, requiring treatment and an extended period of quarantine while his rescuers worked to get him healthy. After weeks of care, there was finally something to celebrate: Hullabaloo was cleared of ringworm! It was an important step toward putting his difficult start behind him and eventually becoming available for adoption. Unfortunately, Hullabaloo decided his medical journey needed one more unexpected twist. After recently receiving a vaccine, he suffered a severe reaction that required emergency veterinary care. After everything his little body had already battled, his rescue suddenly found themselves facing another unplanned medical expense. He certainly seems determined to live up to the name Hullabaloo! Through the ringworm, respiratory illness, quarantine, loss of his companion, and now an emergency trip to the vet, his rescuers have continued making sure he has everything he needs. The hope is that once Hullabaloo has recovered from this latest setback, he will finally be ready to begin looking for a family of his own. Please consider donating toward Hullabaloo’s veterinary care, including treatment for his previous illnesses and the unexpected emergency care needed following his vaccine reaction. Every contribution helps his rescue with the cost of getting this sweet boy healthy and ready for the next chapter of his life.
Winky Kittens
A Deadly Virus Put Three Kittens in Danger
Milwaukee, WI • Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue
Three tiny kittens who have spent nearly their entire lives in the safety of rescue are now facing one of the most dangerous illnesses a kitten can encounter. Abraham Winkin, Tinky Winky, and Winkerbell, affectionately known as The Winky Kittens, came into the care of Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue when they were only a couple of weeks old. They have been given the chance to grow, play, and experience the comfort of being cared for while waiting for their forever homes. For Abraham, that future was already beginning to look especially bright. In his foster home, the snuggly little kitten became inseparable from another rescue kitten named Maisie. Abe loves batting around his mouse toys, following his foster sister everywhere, and curling up close when playtime is over. The pair had become such good friends that the rescue hoped they might even find a home together. Then everything changed. Despite the rescue's careful precautions, Abraham, Tinky Winky, and Winkerbell all tested positive for panleukopenia, a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus that can be especially devastating for young kittens. Abraham was hit the hardest. His condition became serious enough that he needed to be hospitalized in the ICU for more than two days while his veterinary team fought to save his life. His hospitalization alone left the rescue facing an unexpected $4,000 veterinary bill. At the same time, Tinky Winky and Winkerbell needed aggressive supportive treatment under the rescue's panleukopenia protocol as all three kittens fought their way through the virus. Thankfully, the Winky Kittens have survived the most critical part of their battle with panleukopenia and are continuing to make progress. Abraham has even caught the eye of a potential adopter who may be waiting for him once he has completed his quarantine. Their medical journey isn't over yet. All three kittens are also experiencing some degree of eye problems and currently need eye drops. Depending on how their conditions develop as they grow, they may require an additional procedure in the future. Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue has been there for Abraham, Tinky Winky, and Winkerbell since they were tiny babies, and when panleukopenia struck, they did everything possible to give them a fighting chance. Now they could use some help with the unexpected cost of that lifesaving care. Donations to this campaign will help with Abraham's ICU hospitalization, treatment for the Winky Kittens' panleukopenia, and their ongoing veterinary and eye care as they continue recovering. Please consider donating to help these three little fighters continue moving forward and get back to what kittens should be doing: growing, playing, and finding the families who will love them for the rest of their lives.