Success Stories

COLBY: A story of survival and second chances.

Video: Colby our blind happy kitten
Colby was a normal healthy kitten in for a routine neuter and woke up unable to move or eat or walk or see. He is doing much better and learning to live his life being blind. Really such a happy special boy.

My name is Colby & I want to thank everyone out there who is pulling for me!! Three weeks ago my siblings & I were rescued from Baldwin Park Shelter. We were a little feral so we wouldn't have had a chance if we hadn't been rescued. My new mom immediately recognized what a smart and handsome fellow I am. She knew we only needed some love. She was right!!! I didn't know life could be so good! We love our cat tree and new toys and most of all the love.

On Saturday my mom took us to Petco where I met these really nice people who also thought I was pretty special and wanted to give me a "forever home" where my new life could start. There was just one more thing I had to do. I had to be fixed.

That's all I remember.....On Sunday I was neutered. They say I stopped breathing on the table. They had to resuscitate me. I couldn't breath on my own. I couldn't stand or hold my head up. I had to be put on oxygen. I couldn't move, open my eyes eat or go potty. I was one sick kitten! A vet tech was suppose to take me home but that didn't work out. My Mom came to get me. To her horror I was not the same kitty. I should have NEVER been sent home or taken off the oxygen. I was rushed to McClave Emergency vet for the night. Since that day I have been on oxygen and medicine to reduce the swelling in my brain.

Monday I was taken to So Cal Vet and have had many tests, blood work,low iv fluids and more oxygen. This is the key to healing my kind of trauma. That night I was moved again to another 24 hour care unit. I am starting to improve a little. I have a chance and I WILL recover. I am opening my eyes and I am more aware of my surroundings and I love all the love and care I am getting. People seem to really care about me. I must be very special.

All of these wonderful people at Cats Inc. knew I was still in there and didn't give up on me, but they are a small rescue and do not have a lot of money. They are a non profit and don't many have fundraisers. My medical is already over $2500.00 and counting.

We found out this morning (Wednesday) I am blind. I am sure I will learn how to walk again. I am eating on my own now which is a very good sign.

I am a fighter and I can recover but it will take me months. I still have so much love to give and many so many lessons to teach.

Colby was a wonderful, vibrant kitten when he went in to be fixed. The day before he was racing around chasing his brother and sister. He has made it this far and deserves the chance to recover. We now know if this ever happens to anyone else that oxygen can start the brain healing like it has for Colby. He is still going to require a lot more care. We are asking for donations so Colby can have his chance.

Thank-you!!!!

Colby's Mom

UPDATE:

Just a recap of my life since last Sunday when I went in for a routine neuter. I was a normal active, healthy, playful kitten . I was adopted so I was going to my "forever home" the next day. I guess the big guy had different plans for me. My life has changed drastically. I woke up and I couldn't move my legs, breath on my own, eat on my own and I was in lots of pain. I was not suppose to make it thru the night. They don't know me......I still have so much life and love to give. I am young and I will bounce back.

I am going to do the work and be a inspiration for other animals and people who find themselves in an altered state.

For the last week my body has been hooked up to Oxygen 24 hours a day. I was being fed with the IV fluids. I was taken to a 24 hour facility so I could be monitored all day long. I must say... I am young, handsome & pretty darn cute.Needless to say I have become everyones favorite kitty. I am off the Oxygen which is what helped my brain recover from some of the brain damage. I am still blind. It is a chance that some of my sight can still come back. I am not going to dwell on the negative and instead focus on all the positive. I might not be able to see but I SEE the bigger picture. I can FEEL the love I am being given and I reward them with lots of loud purring. I was able to take two steps yesterday before I fell. I am pretty proud of myself and next week when I write you I will be walking much better. It is a little hard to eat. I need to prop myself and balance to get my food. I am enjoying my food so you know I can SMELL and TASTE. I really do have so many things to be Thankful for. For such a short life (12 weeks old) I have learned so many valuable lessons. It is the little things that are important in life. I'm Thankful to be alive. I am thankful for all the people that have loved my story and sent me healing energy. I can feel it. You all think I am worth it. I am going to make you proud. All the people that sent in money for me. This is really touching. A beautiful couple that are in danger of losing their jobs and have a kitty of their own to worry about sent in a small amount of money. They know that it is not the amount that counts but the intention. Their generosity touched me more than if it was a million dollars. Lots of tears came from the rescue group Cats At The Studios; Every bit helps. We are nowhere near paying for my very expensive medical bills. I have several months of recovery to do. Sometimes tragedy can be a gift in disguise.

Friends and Colby supporters....

For those of you who have been asking, this is an update on Colby. He was the kitty that woke up from a routine neuter and couldn't walk, feed himself or use the litter box. He is a very special guy. He is blind and deaf but you can't tell. The human spirit is amazing.

Enjoy the latest video in my gallery or on YouTube. Feel free to look at Colby's previous video to see his progress.

We can all learn something from Colby. There are no accidents in life .....

To read about others that have gone thru what I went thru and how they recovered please read this article. Anesthesia in cats

Feel free to share my story, You never know where you are going to get help.

BROOKLYN: A happily ever after story.

It was love at first site with the tiny, gray Brooklyn (whom we briefly also called "Rita") who was bottle-fed by her foster mom, Yvonne from the start. We took her home, where she was endlessly adorable. As soon as she started playing with her reflection in the mirror, it was a no-brainer that she needed a playmate.

Stu was not going to start playing with her any time soon...In fact, some friends said it might take six months.

As soon as Eric went out of town, I (Eliza) went from the airport to pick up Brooklyn and to go back to Yvonne and Mel's and see which of Brooklyn's kitten friends wanted to come home with us! Along came Heart (then named Bobby) who had made the trip to the pet store to get his last kitten vaccination. While completing their shots, the affection between the two of them caught the attention of every child in the pet store. It was remarkable. I could not wait to be "busted" by Eric for this second kitten adoption.

This is a happily ever after story...Since today Stu, Brooklyn and Heart are bonded to each other like nothing you've ever seen. Since these kittens were bailed out from shelters by Cats Inc. volunteers & saved from certain death, they were raised by humans as infants and were clearly imprinted. We couldn't wish for more affectionate kitties who will purr at the mere sight of a human and are so well socialized and loving.

ERIC & ELIZA ROBERTS: How our dog brought us the gift of kittens.

Before I tell you all about our most recent success story which involves adopting two kittens from this wonderful organization, let me start at the beginning. Little does he know it, but our dog brought us the gift of our kittens. Our daughter, Morgan Simons. brought home a new rescue, and while she was working with him, one of her other rescued dogs came to live with us.

Our cat, Stu, loves to play with Muddy, the dog he sees as a brother. But we saw in Stu's kittenhood how much fun he had playing with other cats.

We'd been having visions of kittens anyway, and now it seemed Stu was having those same visions. We put the word out in the rescue community, and received the most beautiful responses!

We entered a wonderland as soon as we walked into the foster home provided by Yvonne and Mel. These kitties and their visitors were all so happy and well cared for, and all had such interesting stories.