Mightycat Medical Grants

Cindy Clawford

Ham

Zella

Mia

Electricity

Piko

Dan

Kuro

Miss Peregrine

Anaheim

Myla

Kennesaw

Creek Banks

Lexi

Oliver

Mulan

Ravioli

Smaug

Popeye

Popeye was found by local trappers at a community cat colony in Lawrence, KS. They noticed a very sick, tiny, black kitten & managed to trap him so he could get the care he needed. When Popeye came to our partner, Lawrence Humane Society, he was underweight, dehydrated, covered in fleas, undersocialized, and had a severe upper respiratory infection. Sadly, it also appeared that this 7-week-old kitten had a ruptured globe in his right eye! This was clearly causing Popeye pain & staff determined that it was in his best interest to have surgery right away! Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs of his life-changing enucleation. Popeye recovered quickly and his foster told us that Popeye loves to sit on shoulders like a little one-eyed parrot!

Mason

Mason was rescued by our partner, San Antonio Pets Alive! in San Antonio, TX. Sadly, upon intake, this tiny kitten wasn’t using his front right leg to get around. Mason was examined by their veterinarian who suspected he had nerve paralysis and suggested an amputation. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with his procedure. Mason has recovered beautifully in his foster home and is finally able to live a comfortable life. This little tripod was immediately pre-adopted to a wonderful home. We are so happy to provide funding for kittens like Mason when they need it the most!

Rainbow

Rainbow was transferred to our partner, Feline Advocates of Leon County, from a rural shelter in Florida. This tiny dilute calico kitten was in rough shape. She was anemic, covered in fleas, dehydrated, and had a ruptured eye. Rainbow was stabilized, and her medical needs were addressed by their team. Once she was big enough, this little fighter was ready for a life-changing optical surgery. Orphan Kitten Club covered all the costs associated with her necessary enucleation. The procedure was a success & now Rainbow has an adorable permanent wink! We are proud to support organizations that take on kittens who need extra medical care.

Charlie

Charlie came to our partner, YOLO SPCA, in Davis, CA as a young kitten with a cough that no one could figure out! This little guy remained uninterested in food and had a persistent cough even after 3 weeks of 2 different antibiotics. Orphan Kitten Club granted the funds to give Charlie a full workup to better understand his condition. With the information from his bloodwork and radiographs, he was able to start treatment for a lungworm infection and associated elevated kidney values. With new medications, fluid therapy, and anti-nausea support Charlie has gained over 400 grams in his new foster home, and has played and purred for the first time in his life! Some kittens just don’t fit under the umbrella of “normal”, but with this support, Charlie is on his way to being a happy and healthy kitten! Even though he would give his medication regimen 0 out of 5 stars, we are all so glad to finally see him enjoying a much better quality of life.

Cuddles

Cuddles was rescued by our partner organization, Little Lion Foundation in Long Beach, CA by way of their local animal shelter. This tiny 4-week-old kitten was found with a severe injury to his right front paw that caused irreparable nerve damage. Cuddles was completely unable to use his paw and the decision was made by their medical team to remove the injured limb. He was so small and fragile when his injuries were assessed that the veterinarian chose to wait for him to become a bit more hearty prior to surgery. After a few weeks in foster care, Cuddles was cleared for his amputation. Orphan Kitten Club stepped in and granted the funding needed to cover the costs associated with his life-changing procedure. Today Cuddles is living his best life as a tripod tabby kitten!

Jupiter

Jupiter came to our partner organization, Orphan Kitten Project, in Davis, CA at just 3 weeks of age. Jupiter and his 5 underweight siblings were fresh off the streets and in rough condition. They all had upper respiratory infections, were dehydrated, & had terrible diarrhea. With supportive care and treatment, they settled into their foster home and thrived. Sadly when Jupiter was around 6 weeks old he began frequently vomiting & his weight & energy levels dropped. Jupiter was taken to the emergency room where he was found to have eosinophilia, an increase in a type of his white blood cells that can be indicative of a parasitic infection. He received treatment but sadly it was discovered that Jupiter’s vomiting had led to irritation and inflammation of his esophagus, which then led to dilation of the esophagus, also known as megaesophagus. Despite this harrowing diagnosis, Jupiter never gave up. He was placed in an incubator with supplemental oxygen to help him breathe more comfortably and was hooked up IV fluids and medications to help him recover. He maintained a great appetite in the ICU, and remained in good spirits. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the costs associated with his life-saving hospitalization. Back in his foster home, Jupiter began medications to help manage his megaesophagus along with being held upright after mealtimes. His foster family completely fell in love with him and they will soon be making Jupiter a permanent member of their family!

LadyBug

Ladybug was found by animal control in terrible condition. She had a horrific eye infection that had caused her eyes to swell so badly that she was effectively blind. She was brought to our partner, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, in Georgetown, TX for care. Ladybug was immediately sent out to one of their highly-trained specialty medical fosters. After a consultation with an outside vet, it was determined that her eyes were non-functioning and should be removed as soon as Ladybug was at a safe weight. Despite her eye issues, Ladybug thrived in her foster home and learned how to navigate her space with sounds and smells instead! With love, care, and medication it wasn’t long before she was 3 lbs and ready for her surgery. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with her double enucleation surgery, and sweet Ladybug went back to recover with her foster. Ladybug has since recovered and is living her best kitten life!

Georgia

 Georgia was found alone in someone’s front yard on a cold and rainy day. This tiny girl was very underweight and luckily was brought to our partner, Humane Society of West Michigan, to get the care she desperately needed. The staff noticed that this cuddly little kitten couldn’t walk. Georgia spent most of her time lying in her bed or being held. She would often extend her leg completely when lying or sitting to alleviate the discomfort and pain. HSWM took radiographs which indicated she had a fractured femur. There were two options: amputation or try to save the leg with a femoral head ostectomy (FHO), a surgical operation to remove the head and neck from the femur. The medical team decided to try the FHO & Orphan Kitten Club covered the cost of that procedure. Georgia is currently thriving and is doing physical therapy as well as pain management after her lifesaving procedure.

Biscuit

Biscuit (Bizzy for short) was presented as a stray to an emergency clinic with a swollen back leg. The medical staff approached our partner, YOLO SPCA, about accepting her as a rescue, and of course, they said yes! Initially, her care team thought she might have a fracture but x-rays and a neurologic exam revealed she actually had an abscessed hock with no deep pain sensation in her foot and was at risk for developing a systemic infection from the dying leg. They elected to move forward with an emergency amputation. At just 6 weeks old, Bizzy surprised everyone by recovering from her procedure with flying colors! Orphan Kitten Club helped cover the costs associated with this cutting-edge surgery for this tiny biscuit maker. Bizzy is now living her best life on three legs!

Wilder

Wilder was found abandoned under a house with his siblings and when the finders realized his back legs were not properly formed. They reached out to our partner organization, Kitten Nuggets, in ​​New Smyrna Beach, FL for help! Wilder’s hind legs were curled up over his genitals and he would soil them when using the litter box. They couldn’t stay in that position long-term without causing complications and discomfort. X-rays revealed that Wilder was missing several bones in his lower legs and feet and had deformities of the bones that were there. These bony abnormalities would make straightening Wilder’s legs difficult, but they wanted to try! Kitten Nuggets consulted with several veterinarians about the use of therapeutic Botox to relax his tight, contracted muscles alongside serial splinting to hopefully straighten his legs. After weeks of serial splinting, they did see amazing improvements in Wilder’s upper hind legs where his muscles were contracted as a result of the use of Botox, but unfortunately, his lower legs could not be straightened. Thus, the decision was made to amputate his hind legs. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs of Wilder’s novel Botox treatment, serial splinting, and amputations. Wilder had never used his back legs to walk. He’s only ever known walking with his front legs, so amputations weren’t a hard adjustment for him. He gets around SO much easier and more comfortably! Way to go, little two-legged zoomer!

McDonald’s

McDonald’s was surrendered with his littermates to our Partner organization, Providence Animal Rescue League, in Rhode Island. This little nugget and his siblings all appeared to be in good health and were placed into the care of a foster home. Shortly after arriving, the foster noticed something wasn’t quite right with this tiny kitten. McDonald’s had a swollen behind that continued to cause him issues. The shelter veterinarian diagnosed Mickey D’s with a prolapsed anus & surgery was recommended. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with his medical procedure. The surgery was a success and now McDonald’s can poop like a normal kitten. Congratulations buddy, we are so happy to support you when you needed it the most!

Cheez-It

Cheez-It was found orphaned in Brooklyn, New York at just three weeks old. Sadly, one of his eyes had already ruptured at that point. He was rescued by our partner, Brooklyn Animal Action, who immediately got him a warm bottle and medical care. Due to the severity of his eye, the only option was an enucleation. This tiny tuxedo was provided around-the-clock care by his foster to get him big enough for surgery day! Orphan Kitten Club provided funding to cover the costs associated with his eye surgery. Now Cheez-it is living his best life as a one-eyed wonder kitten!

Julian

Little Julian was found under a dumpster in Los Angeles on a hot Summer day. This sweet smokey grey kitten was dehydrated, anemic, and had a horrible upper respiratory infection. His weathered one-pound body was covered in dermatitis, fleas, and ticks! Our Partner organization, Stray Paws Animal Haven, took him into their care and provided him with immediate medical treatment. One week after being rescued, Julian appeared to be improving, but then he unexpectedly crashed. Sadly, the pupil in his left eye collapsed, no longer having the ability to dilate. He was then diagnosed with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). FIP is a deadly virus that was until recently, seen as a non-treatable disease.  Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover his costly 84-day treatment. Julian is a fighter and has been slowly but surely improving since starting his new medical regimen. We are so proud to support kittens like Julian so they can grow into robust mighty cats!

Big Boss

Big Boss and his 3 siblings were found by a TNR group in Denver, Co. The orphaned litter was brought to our partner, Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue, who stepped in to provide care and medical assistance. Big Boss was in rough shape when he arrived in their care and continued to decline. He was admitted to an animal hospital several times for lethargy, weakness, diarrhea, and occasional hypoglycemia. They ran numerous tests, but couldn’t identify exactly what was going on. His bloodwork showed low white blood cell counts which may have been due to infection, but there was not a clear answer. He was treated with aggressive supportive care and was released from the hospital for the last time in mid-August. Orphan Kitten Club helped cover the cost of his extensive medical care and hospitalization. Since discharge, Big Boss has been recovering in foster care and has started to thrive. He continues to gain weight, eat well, and is acting like a rambunctious little kitten! We are so proud to support this little guy when he needed it the most! 

Linus & Minus

These two newborn Persian kittens were rescued by our partner, Yolo County SPCA, in Davis, CA. Linus & Minus were brought to an emergency clinic in a bad state. They were entwined with another sibling’s umbilical cord & their mother’s tail which caused a traumatic amputation of each of their right pelvic limbs. The medical team was able to delicately separate them from mom and the other kitten and assess the situation. The litter’s owner surrendered both kittens to YOLO who proceeded with their medical care. They had no time to waste and used a local block to amputate the necrotic limbs and placed them on antibiotics. This procedure was done when they were only one day old! Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs of those lifesaving amputations.  When they’re bigger this duo will need orthopedic radiographs on each limb to determine how much femur is left and if they will end up needing higher-up amputations to prevent pressure sores. We are so happy to support these tiny three-legged kittens on their journey to becoming Mightycats!

Swish

Swish the calico kitten and her brother Flick were brought to our partner, Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue, in Stillwater, OK. Both kittens needed medical intervention, but Swish was much worse off than her sibling. She arrived with a respiratory infection that resulted in her getting pneumonia, a bacterial infection in her skin, and both eyes horribly infected. Tiny paws provided her with care and medical support but sadly Swish’s left eye became reinfected. Their veterinarian decided to move forward with an enucleation. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with Swish’s ocular procedure. She has since recovered & is living her best life with one eye. 

Sriracha

Sriracha the kitten has had quite a journey! This tiny tabby was once a “spicy” kitten who was surrendered to a shelter as an orphan. The shelter staff noticed that he was barely eating and began to dramatically lose weight. Sriracha became lethargic and was in dire need of medical intervention. The shelter reached out to our partner, the Humane Society of Valdosta in Georgia to see if they could take on his case. They took him into their custody and sent him directly to the hospital. An ultrasound was performed and the vet discovered that Sriracha had an intestinal blockage! The doctor suspected intussusception, a life-threatening condition that occurs when a portion of the intestine folds with one segment slipping inside another segment. Sriracha was only 1.5lbs at that time, but the surgery needed to happen fast. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover his life-saving procedure. Sriracha had about 4 inches of his intestinal tract removed during this surgery.  Now the not-so-spicy Sriracha has fully recovered and is living his best kitten life! Way to go Sriracha!

Luca

Luca was brought to a shelter in Long Beach, CA after a good samaritan found him wandering aimlessly in a park. This tiny kitten appeared to have no eyes and needed urgent medical intervention. Our partner, Little Lion Foundation, stepped up and transferred Luca into their care and he was taken immediately to their veterinarian. He was diagnosed with microphthalmia, meaning that he had underdeveloped, tiny eyes. He was placed on antibiotics to help his upper respiratory infection in the hope that he would be able to live with this condition, however, that was not the case. Sadly, Luca continued to have infections in both eye sockets and the veterinarian decided to move forward with a double enucleation so that he would not have to deal with continuous infections. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover Luca’s surgery and now he is living his best life without the infections holding him back! Luca recovered from his procedure and was quickly adopted into a loving home!

Ceci

Ceci was rescued at 6 weeks old by our partner, Brooklyn Animal Action, in New York. She was placed into a foster home and was thriving until her health took a major turn 2 weeks in. One day Ceci suddenly became lethargic and refused to eat. Her temperature skyrocketed to 104 degrees. She was administered fluids, but the fever wouldn’t break. Ceci went to a vet the next day for further supportive care. She was tested for panleukopenia, but the test yielded negative results. The clinic ran diagnostics including bloodwork, but there was nothing remarkable to note. Since the origin of her fever couldn’t be identified, Ceci was transferred to an emergency hospital. Her diagnosis was never clear, but with 24 hours of hospitalization and supportive care, she bounced back and made a full recovery! Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with Ceci’s emergency care. We are so proud to help kittens like Ceci in their moments of need and to support rescues who do everything they can to help their kittens become Mightycats!

Espresso

This tiny tuxedo kitten was rescued by our partner organization, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown, TX. Espresso came to the shelter with his sibling but there was something obviously different about his chest. Espresso had a very dramatic misshapen chest and was diagnosed with pectus excavatum- a congenital malformation of the chest that can be fatal for young kittens if not corrected. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the costs of his intensive but lifesaving surgical procedure. Espresso’s corrective surgery was a success! He has been placed with an experienced medical foster and will be available for adoption once he fully recovers.

Maximillion

Maximillion came into our partner, Michigan Humane, as a tiny stray kitten. He was underweight, had an upper respiratory infection (URI), and something wrong with his right eye.  Upon examination, their medical team found that he had an absent eye, meaning there was no globe in his right eye. This confirmed that an enucleation would be necessary. Once Maxi was stable and healthy, Michigan Humane performed his enucleation in-house. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with his ocular surgery. Maximillion recovered from his procedure in a loving foster home and was quickly adopted into an amazing home! Way to go Maxi!

Opal

Opal came to our partner, Meow Parlour, in NYC as a seemingly healthy and spunky kitten until they noticed she had a little bit of a wink. During her spay, the veterinarian noted that she had an entropion eyelid (inward turning)  and recommended that she have corrective surgery. Her surgery was a success, however, shortly after spay she started straining while urinating and producing small bloody drops in the litterbox. An ultrasound eventually revealed that she had developed a bladder stone despite being only 12 weeks old! Her vet recommended starting a prescription diet to see if the stone would dissolve on its own. Sadly, the following day Opal was straining so hard that she developed a rectal prolapse! She required an emergency surgery and a purse string suture to secure it back in place. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover her life-saving medical procedures. Throughout the entire experience, Opal was the happiest, sweetest, and most grateful little kitten. At her follow-up appointment, they found that the prescription diet worked and her bladder stone was gone! The next day, she went home to her adopter and she’s currently living happily in her new home.

Storm

At just three weeks old, Storm & his sibling came into the care of our partner Orphan Kitten Project in Davis, CA. The kittens appeared to be healthy and went into foster care, but sadly Storm had a major turn of events. Storm suddenly began having acute neurologic signs. He was shaking and abnormally moving his limbs. He was also straining to urinate, and there was evidence of bloody urine in his litterbox. Storm became increasingly lethargic with pale gums and began drooling. His foster rushed him to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) where he was assessed by the emergency staff and neurologists. At the VMTH, they ran diagnostic bloodwork and found that his sodium levels were dangerously high. Along with the severe hypernatremia (high sodium), Storm also had hypoglycemia, hyperchloremia (high chloride), mild hyperkalemia (high potassium), and metabolic acidosis. It was determined that the high sodium levels were the source of the neurologic symptoms he was experiencing. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to help cover the costs associated with his hospitalization and care. His veterinarians were able to bring his high sodium levels back down to a normal range through the administration of fluids & he will require administration of water long term to prevent his sodium levels from rising in the future.

Cheeto

This tiny tiger from Georgetown, Texas was rescued by our partner, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. Cheeto came into their care at 7 weeks of age and sadly his health began to rapidly decline. He developed an upper respiratory infection, began open-mouth breathing, had severe ataxia, and required emergency medical intervention. Cheeto spent a few days in an emergency clinic where he received life-saving care including IV fluids, dextrose, nebulization, heat, and oxygen support. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the costs associated with his hospitalization. Cheeto was discharged and slowly but surely recovered. He is now thriving and has had one of the most dramatic glow-ups we have seen in a Mightycat. Way to go Cheeto!

Blue

Blue was found by a volunteer of our partner organization, Little Lion Foundation in Long Beach, CA. Their volunteer was walking down the street when a kitten fell out of a tree onto the sidewalk. What are the odds? The kitten screamed out in pain and the volunteer contacted LLF. They were able to have Blue seen by a veterinarian right away. The vet said that the impact was so great that Blue’s bone was crushed in two separate places and he had a dislocated patella! Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover his amputation and medical expenses. Blue has since recovered and has adapted to life as a tripod!

Mirabel

Mirabel was rescued by our partner, Toledo Animal Rescue, in Toledo, Ohio. This 11-week-old tabby was diagnosed with Legg- Perthes. Her treatment plan required a femoral head ostectomy (FHO) to ensure she would live a happy and active life. Toledo Animal Rescue worked with a local vet to perform her much-needed surgery. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the cost of her FHO procedure. The surgery was a success & Mirabel received post-op treatments and check-ins with the medical team. She has since gone home with her amazing and dedicated adopter!

Blinky

Blinky was 6 weeks old when she was surrendered to a rural shelter in Georgia. That shelter contacted our partner, Feline Advocates of  Leon County, in Tallahassee, FL to take on her case. Poor Blinky had severe eye issues and immediately received veterinary care. Sadly, her left eye had already ruptured. She was diagnosed with severe bilateral conjunctivitis, a ruptured left eye as well as oral ulcers that pointed to calicivirus. Orphan Kitten Club provided funding to cover the costs of Blinky’s double enucleation surgery. In spite of everything she’s been through, she is still the sweetest, most resilient kitten. Blinky is now learning to navigate the world without vision but with lots of love and support!

Ace

Ace was rescued by our partner, Kitten Nuggets, in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Ace was a singleton kitten being fostered through a local shelter when his foster mom noticed that he was avoiding the litter box and had some uncomfortable genital swelling. He was diagnosed with a condition called phimosis and unfortunately, the shelter vet was unable to treat him and they asked for rescue assistance. Kitten Nuggets brought Ace into their care and worked with a veterinarian to come up with a treatment plan. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with Ace’s medical procedure to make a bigger opening and allow him to urinate normally. His procedure was done with a laser, so no sutures!⁣⁣ Way to go Ace!

Jabong

Jabong arrived at our partner organization, Kauai Humane Society, in rough shape. His eyes were swollen shut and he was so congested from an upper respiratory infection that he could barely breathe. At 3 weeks old he weighed a mere 0.6 lbs.  Jabong was placed under medical supervision for about a month before he was allowed to go into foster care and resided in an incubator provided by OKC in a previous grant. Once he was stable enough, Jabong went into his foster home. Sadly his conjunctiva scarring was so bad it covered almost half of his eyes and severely limited his field of vision. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with his medical care, including an eye conjunctiva scarring release surgery. Jabong made a swift recovery and was adopted the very next day!

Crumb

This adorable little kitten was transferred from a local municipal shelter to our partner organization, Indy Humane, in Indianapolis, IN. Crumb was brought in as an injured, 3-week-old singleton and needed an emergency amputation. Indy performed an assessment, got Crumb checked out for any compounding issues, and created a treatment and recovery plan. One of IndyHumane’s most experienced foster parents took over from there and has brought Crumb in for regular check-ups so they can monitor their motor progress. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the costs associated with the medical care and surgery for this little mighty cat. Crumb has slowly gained confidence on three legs and his foster has spent lots of time encouraging safe and gentle play.  Crumb will be the happiest and cutest tripod in all the land!

Lexus

Our Partner, Newborn Kitten Rescue, in Scottsdale, AZ transferred little Lexus & her siblings from their local shelter. These tiny kittens were found in a rough state at an auto shop by a Good Samaritan. They were all underweight and had upper respiratory infections. Lexus started to decline, she began vomiting and experienced a dramatic weight loss. Their consulting veterinarian suggested a local emergency animal clinic with specialists on staff.  After a series of tests including radiographs and lab work, they learned that Lexus was battling both panleukopenia and pneumonia and needed immediate hospitalization. Lexus was stabilized and received IV fluids, antibiotics, and was fed via a nasogastric tube, all under the careful observation of the hospital staff. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to help cover her hospitalization & supportive care. Lexus was discharged and placed back into a loving foster home to recuperate. Lexus also captured some hearts at the hospital and one of the Vet Techs there wants to adopt her!

Mariano

Mariano arrived at our partner, Hearts Alive Village, in Las Vegas, Nevada as a stray kitten in bad shape. He was unable to use his back legs and was infested with maggots. This sweet little guy was quickly brought to a veterinarian for treatment. It was determined that he did have a break in his leg near a growth plate, and the best option was to wait a month or two before proceeding with an amputation. He received antibiotics and pain medication and was placed in foster care. During this time, Mariano started having trouble breathing. He was immediately brought to an emergency vet where they took radiographs and he was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia!  Mariano was rushed into emergency surgery a few hours later. The surgery was a success and to top that off, his broken leg has officially healed! Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to help cover the costs associated with Mariano’s medical journey. We are so proud to support organizations like Hearts Alive who fight for the little guys!

Chip

Chip the kitten was transferred from a rural shelter to our partner, INDY Humane, due to a severe wound on his back right foot. Sadly, his wound took off the paw pad and the underlying tendons were exposed. INDY’s medical team was initially concerned that this little guy might end up needing a leg amputation due to the degree of degloving. However, with a combination of medical intervention and loving care, Chip was able to magically heal his back leg! All that remained was a small scab that will scar over with time. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs associated with Chips care with their in-house veterinary team including- wound debridement under anesthesia, daily laser therapy and wound cleaning, antibiotics, and pain medication. What a success story! We are so proud to support kittens like Chip from this incredible Indianapolis, IN shelter.

Dani

Dani was just a mere 6 ounces when she entered foster care with our partner, Hearts Alive Village, in Las Vegan, NV.  She had been found with her family at a colony that was being managed by a local TNR organization. This tiny kitten was only a quarter of the size of her siblings! Dani was thin, malnourished, and dehydrated but has a strong spirit and will to live.  Once she was a bit larger,  Dani was brought to a local vet hospital in order to have some bloodwork done to get a better picture of what could be going on. Orphan Kitten Club provided a grant to cover the cost of this diagnostic testing. Luckily, her incredibly small size was not anything more serious than malnutrition. Dani was given an extra nutritious diet & thrived in foster care, finally reaching surgery weight! Nice job little one!

Daisy

Daisy was transferred to our partner, Meow Parlour, in NYC along with her mom & three siblings. Soon after arriving in their care, the kittens started to vomit and had diarrhea. When the team went to see the kittens in foster, poor Daisy was in the midst of having a neurological episode! They found her face down and not engaging with her siblings or mom, but when touched, she would very quickly move away in a disoriented fashion. This tiny 4-week-old kitten was immediately brought to an emergency clinic where she was placed on IV fluids and was given supportive care for several hours. Daisy stabilized after a few hours and was released to be monitored in her foster home. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs of this unexpected hospitalization. She has since made a full recovery and hasn’t had any issues since! We are so happy to support our partners when kittens in their care have unforeseen medical expenses.

Beast

Beast, the tiny black kitten was rescued by our partner, Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, in Blackwood New Jersey. Beast wasn’t in the best shape when he came into their care. He had a cut lip and his right eye had ruptured & immediately received medical attention. His right eye was enucleated, his lip was freshened, and he was given antibiotics and pain medication. Orphan Kitten Club covered the cost of his medical care at Homeward Bound. After his surgery, Beast went into a loving foster home to recover. We are so proud to support kittens like Beast who need extra care at the begging of their journey to becoming a #Mightycat.

Gwen & Leah

Gwen & Leah were found in a parking garage with their feral mom in Brooklyn, New York. Our partner organization, Brooklyn Animal Action, took them into their care along with their mom. Within the first day, the sisters began vomiting and had diarrhea. Neither were very interested in food and lost a significant amount of weight. The duo was rushed to the vet for a panleukopenia test and supportive care. They received fluids, anti-nausea meds, and a week-long course of antibiotics. Orphan Kitten Club covered the costs of their hospitalization & medical care. The tabby sisters bounced back and thrived in their foster home. They were both adopted and their mom was TNR’d and has a dedicated caretaker at the parking garage who loves her very much.

Princess

Sweet Princess was dumped along with her 2 siblings and mom in a church parking lot in Los Angeles.  She was lethargic with a severely extended belly and was in desperate need of medical care. Our partner organization, Stray Paws Animal Haven, took Princess and her family into their care. She was hospitalized and stayed overnight for treatment which included radiographs and a feeding tube. It turned out she ingested a foreign object and it had blocked her bowels! OKC paid for her hospitalization, and she has since made a full recovery and has been reunited with her mom & siblings!

Junior

Junior was transferred to our partner, Feline Advocates of Leon County, in Tallahassee, Florida from a rural shelter with very limited resources. Upon intake, he had diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, roundworm, and urine scald on his back legs. FALC immediately addressed his medical concerns however 10 days into his course of treatment, it appeared he was worsening. Junior was taken to their veterinarian and it was determined that he had dry Feline Infectious Peritonitis with an ocular/neurological component. FIP is a virus that was until recently, was seen as a non-treatable disease. Orphan Kitten club has granted funding to help cover Junior’s innovative treatment. He will be taking a medication that has been used to treat FIP in young cats successfully.  We are very hopeful that this drug will be an effective treatment option for Junior.

The Runner Kittens

Our Mightycat Partner organization, Humane Society of West Michigan, took in a mama cat and her litter of 4 neonatal kittens from their local animal control agency. This family (named after famous female runners) went directly into a foster home but sadly experienced rapid onset diarrhea, vomiting, & weight loss. Molly, Zola, Dez, and Ellie required care at a local emergency clinic to treat and monitor their symptoms. Unfortunately, little Molly did not make it. The remaining 3 are thriving after their hospitalization and supportive care treatments. Orphan Kitten Club is proud to provide the funding needed to give kittens the medical support they need to grow into robust mighty cats!

Tabby & Tabbico

These two 11-week-old kittens were brought to a shelter in rural Georgia where they started to dramatically lose weight and needed more care than the shelter was able to provide. They reached out to our partner, Planned PEThood, who requested the kittens be tested for panleukopenia. Both kittens tested positive and were housed in Planned PEThood’s isolation room for treatment. Tabby & Tabbico needed around-the-clock care which meant that additional staff was needed for overtime and weekends to manage their care along with the expense of additional PPE. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to help cover the cost of their supportive care for panleukopenia. This included supplies to prevent the spread of this deadly virus to any other felines at the shelter. After being lovingly cared for by their staff, these two kittens are thriving! We are so proud to support this in-house effort to safely care for kittens with panleukopenia!

Dahlia

Dahlia was found by an animal control officer and brought to our partner, Stray Paws in El Monte, CA. This tiny micro-panther was only 7 weeks old at the time. She was in great health and spirits despite the fact that her rear leg was stuck in a backward position. It seemed that her leg had been previously broken, and then healed back together in the wrong position. Dahlia was seen by a veterinarian who performed multiple radiographs to better understand what was going on with her leg. The medical team knew the best course of action was to amputate the limb. Orphan Kitten Club helped cover the costs associated with her medical care. Dahlia went to recover in a foster home with former #Mightycat, Peggy. The two became total buds and are both thriving after their medical procedures!

Miss Kitty

The Beetlejuice Trio

Pete

Vanilla

Peggy & Navy

Fae

Pixie

Miso

Bailey

Linus

Sally

Henrietta

Petal

P.S. I Love You

Johnny

Ron

Gizmo

Salem

Milacho & Hoagie

Japchae

Bear

A Good Samaritan brought little Bear and his littermate to our partner organization, Pasadena Humane Society. The finder offered to foster the duo of bottle babies but soon noticed there was something wrong with Bear’s eyes. One eye looked cloudy and the other eye appeared very small. Bear was returned to PHS and during a medical evaluation, it was discovered that he would need a double bilateral enucleation surgery as both eyes presented abnormalities. Bear was diagnosed with microphthalmia in both eyes, a congenital eye disease characterized by small or absent eyes. Bear’s case was severe enough that their medical team felt he would benefit greatly from surgical treatment. Orphan Kitten Club granted funding to cover the costs of Bear’s double enucleation. His surgery was a success, and he was able to recover with the help of his kitty best friend, Stripes, who has been helping him learn to navigate the world!

Lil’ Turk

Lil’ Turk was rescued by our partners, Stray Paws Animal Haven, in El Monte, CA. This 8-week old tabby came to them with some serious injuries to his back legs. Stay Paws immediately took him to have radiographs taken where they learned that both of his femurs were fractured. Their vet felt that Turk had a good prognosis and they decided to move forward with corrective surgery. Orphan Kitten Club granted $2,500 to help cover the costs of his medical bills including external fixators. Lil’ Turk’s surgery was a success and he has been adjusting to life with his new legs!

Minnie Taco Riperton

Minnie Taco Riperton was rescued by our partners, Meow Parlour, in NYC, NY. This tiny tuxedo was placed into foster care but sadly at just 5 weeks old, she had a medical emergency. Minnie was rushed to a nearby emergency hospital where it was determined that her blood glucose level was extremely low, which in turn would not allow her to regulate her body temperature. With a lot of supportive care over the course of 4 days, she was released with her glucose issue resolved. However, while she was at the hospital, one of her eyes ruptured and the lens came out! When she was released, her doctor said that she may require an enucleation, but that they could treat her with antibiotics and monitor for the time being. The doctor said it was possible that the eye, while it will always be blind, could heal over and not require an enucleation. Orphan Kitten Club granted $2,500, which covered the majority of her emergency hospital stay. In addition to antibiotics, Minnie received serum eye drops. Meow Parlour was able to purchase the equipment for the serum from a Mightycat Programmatic Grant they received last Fall. The combinations of the serum drops and oral meds managed to deflate that eye successfully! Minnie is able to keep her eye and no enucleation was necessary!

Dexter

Little Dexter was rescued by our partner, Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This 7-week old kitten was brought to them in a bad state. Dexter was rushed to Oklahoma State University Veterinary Hospital where he received an emergency  bilateral enucleation surgery. Orphan Kitten Club covered all the medical costs associated with Dexter’s hospitalization and emergency surgery. Dexter has had a steady recovery and is quickly learning to adjust to his surroundings.  Tiny Paws has rescued numerous kittens with similar eye conditions and is fortunate to have a volunteer who has rehabilitated a number of blind kittens prior to adoption. Their volunteer provides specialized care for kittens like Dexter and works with adoptive homes on how to provide the most supportive environment for their sightless kittens.

Ruben

Handsome Ruben was rescued by our partners, Stray Paws Animal Haven, in El Monte, CA. He came to them with a transverse fracture of his right tibia. Sweet Ruben was confined to kennel rest but still was able to bear weight on his injured leg.  After consulting with multiple vets, Stray Paws was able to find a doctor who felt strongly that he could save Ruben’s leg. Orphan Kitten Club granted $2,500 to help cover the costs of Ruben’s leg surgery and his external fixators. The surgery was a success and Ruben is now recovering beautifully with his “new leg”!

BunBun

Sweet BunBun was rescued by our partners, Wisconsin Humane Society. A Good Sam was able to humanely trap 5-week old Bunbun along with her mom & bring them to WHS. Upon intake, the team noticed Bun Bun was badly injured. The finder had found this tiny kitten with her front limb caught in some wire. Her limb was very swollen, bleeding, and had small maggots present. The medical team at WHS made the decision to amputate the limb and Orphan Kitten Club granted funding for the cost of that procedure. Now Bunbun is thriving as a tripod tabby and has since been adopted into a loving home!

Duchess 

Little Duchess was rescued by our #Mightycat partner, Stray Paws Animal Haven, in El Monte, CA. This tiny kitten was part of a hoarding situation that Stay Paws was assisting. Duchess was found in very bad shape and was brought to their wellness clinic where they realized she was severely impacted due to her inability to defecate. She was brought to a specialist who determined she had Anal atresia, a congenital anomaly in which the anus is lacking the normal opening. Duchess was in need of a life-saving surgery. Orphan Kitten Club granted $2,500 for her medical bills and now sweet Duchess has a fully functional kitten butt!

Prudence

Prudence was brought to our partners, Lawrence Humane Society, as a stray kitten found behind a tractor supply store. The finder noted that Prudence appeared to have a broken leg and she was immediately examined by the LHS medical team.  Prudence’s left front leg was severely injured and she could not put any weight on it, surgery was necessary. OKC granted funding to cover the cost of amputating her injured leg. Prudence has recovered beautifully – she loves running around and is learning to scamper up the cat tree on three legs.  She has been apprenticing with her foster friend, Sugar, who is teaching her that having four legs is completely overrated! We are so happy to support kittens like Prudence! 

Sweet Smokey

Little Smokey was rescued by our partner, YOLO SPCA. This little 6-week old grey kitten was put into a foster home but needed some extra help. Smokey was dehydrated, lethargic, and refusing to eat. YOLO brought him to UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital where he was hospitalized and started on IV fluids. His blood work revealed abnormal BUN and CREA values indicating metabolic acidosis. Smokey’s electrolyte values were stabilized and he was kept on IV fluid therapy and oral antibiotics as well. He improved dramatically and began eating on his own! Smokey was placed back in foster care and has been thriving. Orphan Kitten Club covered all the costs associated with his hospitalization. We are so proud to support kittens like Smokey when they need it the most!

Planned PEThood’s Panleukopenia Kittens

Our partner organization, Planned PEThood of GA, was sent an urgent plea by another local shelter that was at capacity with kittens. Planned PEThood pulled 26 kittens in one day! They housed the kittens in new kennels (granted by OKC in a previous Programmatic Grant Cycle) while they found foster homes. Sadly, 9 of the kittens tested positive for Panleukopenia during their intake exams. Due to this happening over the 4th of July holiday week many of their staff members were unavailable to step in. They were not able to place the Panleuk positive kittens in foster, so they chose to board the kittens for treatment at a local clinic. OKC covered the costs for these 9 kittens to be hospitalized over the holiday. They received around-the-clock supportive care from the amazing medical team at Russell Ridge Animal Hospital. All 9 kittens survived and are on the path to a full recovery!