When Gizmo arrived at Cat Care Society, he was a tiny kitten fighting a very big battle. He’d already undergone surgery at another shelter for what was believed to be a congenital intestinal condition. But something still wasn’t right.
Our veterinary team dug deeper. Through ultrasounds and testing, we discovered that one of Gizmo’s kidneys had been severely damaged…so enlarged, it was taking up most of the space inside his abdomen. Our team performed a lifesaving surgery to remove the failing kidney.
Then, Gizmo went into foster care with one of our technicians, Jennie, who provided attentive post-operative care. This dedicated foster noticed that something was still wrong; Gizmo was experiencing pain when trying to use the litterbox.
Gizmo was diagnosed with a rectal constriction, and our team performed procedures to gently break down scar tissue and improve his comfort.
“If you look at Gizmo on paper, this cat is a trainwreck. But then you look at the cat and he’s a normal kitty. He flew through his procedures, bounced right back, he’s super resilient. We don’t just look at what’s going on with the cat on paper. We really value quality of life.” -Dr. Cecily Palamara, Chief Veterinarian
Gizmo’s story isn’t just about medical care. It’s about collaboration.
It took a united effort to give Gizmo a second chance. Each person a vital piece of the puzzle. From veterinary staff and foster caregivers to adoption counselors, adopters, and generous donors like you, every role fit together to complete the picture of his recovery.
The final piece of the puzzle, our team worked closely with a prospective adopter, ensuring she fully understood Gizmo’s unique needs. She met with Dr. Palamara before finalizing the adoption to learn how to care for him.
Thanks to her commitment and the combined efforts of everyone along the way, Gizmo is surrounded by care and compassion as he embarks on the next chapter of his journey.
“Gizmo has been loving life since coming home, eating voraciously, learning how to climb up the jungle gym kitty furniture, watching all the birds, and chasing and annoying his new brother,” says Gizmo’s adopter, Meg.
“It became obvious pretty quickly that he’s a reliable little guy who chooses to stay close to his people, and who knows his name and comes when called. He’s been so happy and active, with his medical conditions so well under control, that he’s successfully weaned off of the comfort medications that he was on in the shelter (with his new vet’s approval), and hasn’t seemed to miss them!”
At Cat Care Society, our relationship with adopters is a true partnership. Thanks to donors like you, we’re able to not only provide advanced medical diagnostics, procedures, and treatment for cats like Gizmo, but also equip adopters with the tools they need for success.
We give adopters thorough medical records, personalized education about their cat’s care, and provide food and medication to help ease the transition into their new home.
On paper, Gizmo is what some might call a complicated case. But to us, he’s a joyful, resilient kitten who deserved a chance to live without pain and with dignity.
Your donations are an important piece of the puzzle, enabling us to provide the tools, treatments, education, and support that make stories like this possible. Will you make a gift today to help more cats like Gizmo receive the care and compassion they deserve?
Thank you for being an essential part of this collaborative effort.
– EC Michaels
