She’s got no tail, is fighting off internal parasites and has so many fleas that she became anemic, but Puma’s still a gem, say SPCA officials.
Last week, Puma the cat came into the care of the Squamish SPCA. The cat was thought to have been abandoned when her guardians moved away. Puma was in poor condition when she came into the shelter.
She was infested with ear mites, internal parasites and suffered from Manx syndrome, which causes a malformation of the spine, among other problems. She needed emergency surgery to repair a sudden rectum prolapse and her “bunny puff” tail was also amputated.
“She’s now recovering well from the repair and amputation, but there’s a chance that the repair may not take, and she could need a more invasive surgery called a coloplexy,” said Marika Donnelly, BC SPCA Squamish Valley branch manager.
The medical costs to care for Puma are expected to run as high as $2,000. That will hit the shelter’s piggy bank hard, Donnelly noted. The average cost of care per animal is $485. Last year, the local SPCA spent more than $85,000 on bills for cats arriving at the facility from within district boundaries. The non-profit organization relies heavily on public donations to care for the province’s most vulnerable animals.
The number of animals the Squamish branch helps is on an upward trend. In 2013, the branch housed 311 animals, most of which were cats. On average the local organization deals with more than 70 kittens per year.
Puma is a sweet young lady who loves to be brushed, petted and snuggle in a lap, Donnelly said. The cat gets along well with dogs and has become fast friends with the shelter’s special needs resident cat, she said.
“She is such a gem,” Donnelly said. “We’d just like to help this amazing kitty overcome all the disadvantages she’s already had to face, and hopefully, help her find a loving forever home.”
To help Puma and other animals at the Squamish SPCA you can donate online at www.spca.bc.ca/medicalemergency or in person at the branch on Government Road located in the Squamish municipal works yard.
