We have taken in another extremely ill stray cat under the charity’s care, and once again, we must launch a fundraising appeal to cover the urgent and extensive veterinary treatment he requires.
Bonjeck, a six-year-old cat, arrived at our North London Cat Clinic last week in a dire state, with the lower half of his body encrusted in feces due to chronic diarrhea. His condition is so severe that he constantly leaks small amounts of excrement and has been losing weight steadily, now alarmingly thin. As an unneutered stray, Bonjeck has been surviving in this desperate state, which has led to him contracting FIV, likely from repeated fights with other cats. He also shows symptoms of cat flu and is generally in very poor health. The exact cause of Bonjeck’s severe diarrhea remains unclear, making his treatment likely to be costly, ongoing, and potentially challenging.
Bonjeck has already undergone neutering at our North London Cat Clinic. He was also tested for FeLV and FIV, the latter of which unfortunately came back positive, and he received a thorough wash while under anesthesia. To manage his cat flu symptoms, he is on two types of antibiotics and a strict diet of Gastrointestinal food, which costs around £20 per week. He has had further blood tests, costing £75 each, to determine the next steps for his treatment. We anticipate that within the month, an abdominal ultrasound, costing around £150 per session with additional specialist evaluation fees, will be necessary. Due to Bonjeck’s mistrust of people, he must be sedated for each treatment, adding to the costs. His infectious cat flu requires isolation protocols, limiting the number of procedures performed during his Clinic visits and leading to a loss of income from routine operations. Consequently, we are facing an initial bill of at least £800 for Bonjeck’s care.
Currently, Bonjeck is considerably more comfortable in a heated suite at Catcuddles HQ than he has been in months.
At this early stage, we are hesitant to make predictions about his prognosis but are aware that we are embarking on a very long journey. This is true for both our veterinary team and our daily routine volunteers, who face the challenge of keeping Bonjeck and his environment at CCHQ clean and hygienic. In addition to his “leaking,” he is unfamiliar with living in a home, making a litter tray an entirely new concept for him. He must also be cared for under strict isolation protocol due to his cat flu symptoms.
Despite the challenges, we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to restore Bonjeck’s health, with the ultimate hope of finding him a loving home for the rest of his days. However, we need your help to achieve this. Although we have asked for your support repeatedly in recent months and worry about overburdening our wonderful community of donors and supporters, the truth is that we cannot continue to offer a lifeline to the most broken, neglected, and downtrodden cats without your constant support.
Your continued support is invaluable in this journey. Whether through donations, sharing Bonjeck’s story, or offering words of encouragement, you are making a difference in his life and the lives of many other animals like him. Together, we can provide the care and compassion these animals deserve and ensure that they have a chance at a brighter future.
