Three Dying Kittens Given Second Chance at MAPS

On August 9, two stray kittens found in rough shape were admitted to Marshfield Area Pet Shelter. Later, a third sibling was found, also in bad condition. Holly Henschke, Medical Coordinator, stayed late to care for the kittens, unsure if they would survive.

August 9:

“They were approximately 9 – 10 weeks old, judging by their teeth, though they were extremely malnourished and not as big as they should have been at that age,” said Henschke. “The kittens were not very social toward people, and given their medical condition, it is likely they were part of a colony of strays.  With these kitties, we can only guess at their history.  A group of good Samaritans saw that they needed help and got them trapped and sent to MAPS.”

The first step was to remove the various parasites that the kittens were hosting.  Aside from the usual suspects like fleas and intestinal parasites, these kittens had open wounds from fly larvae infestation, in addition to maggots feeding on the infected tissue.

“Thankfully, there are products that target these nasty creatures and we were able to rid them of the parasites very quickly,” said Henschke. “Then, baths, antibiotics for upper respiratory infections, and wound care.  One of the kittens had a serious eye injury that we are still treating, in hopes that it does not have to be removed.  That will be determined by her veterinarian when the time comes for her to have her spay surgery.”

Because these kittens were so weak and needed daily wound care, MAPS did not place them in foster care. Over time, they are becoming more and more sociable. Named Margo, Maddie, and Minerva, they are finally big enough to undergo spay surgery and be adopted.

September 14:

“All three have different personalities.  Maddie, the kitten with the eye injury, is the most timid of the three girls, but hopefully someone special will give her a chance,” said Henschke. “She is learning how to play and doesn’t shy away from pets like she did when she first arrived.  She’s been through so much in her short life, that it would be really lovely to see her in a loving home.”

Henschke said it’s because of the community’s generosity that these three sweet kittens were given a chance.

“We are able to do the work that we do because of the generosity of our wonderful community,” she said. “From the volunteers who found these kitties, to those who donate time, food, and funds to our cause, thank you!”

As always, she encourages everyone to have their pet spayed and neuter, which is the best way to help MAPS and other shelters.

“Feline overpopulation leads to many, many kittens left to fend for themselves, becoming ill and sadly dying from neglect,” said Henschke. “I would also encourage people to check with their local government officials to see if their municipality has a stray cat contract with a shelter.  If they don’t, encourage them to do so!  It gives these strays a safe place to go and people don’t have to scramble to find care for these animals.”

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