It seems like summer is all about kittens, as our rescue numbers skyrocket with litters of adorable kittens and our social media posts are full of teeny little furry faces. However, we have rescued a number of adult cats as well including two special fellows that needed significant care.

Early one morning, our Pet Rescue Co-Chair was notified by the Regina Humane Society about a tame cat with an RCR tattoo number that had been hit by a vehicle and was at the 24-hour emergency clinic in need of surgery to fix a broken jaw. Poor Gretzky was thin and his coat was rough, indicating that he’d likely been living stray for some time. He is a very calm and sweet cat, though, and handled his treatment very well, never complaining and always happy to have a kind touch and words of reassurance. He loves to play and particularly likes to play hockey with aluminum foil balls, hence his name. He is also very snuggly and likes to be near his foster mom at all times, needing reassurance that he is safe. Gretzky’s jaw is currently wired shut, but he will be having the wire removed in a few weeks and he will be available for adoption.

Deklyn was rescued when one of our feral team volunteers found him living in her backyard. She quickly noticed that he had no tail and that he was suffering from severe diarrhea. With no tail to swat away flies, he was being plagued by them and needed help. The vet confirmed that his tail had been traumatically severed at some point, but was healed. It’s been a long haul with Deklyn as he had a serious parasitic infection known as Coccidia. Once the Coccidia was treated and the diarrhea was under control, it became obvious that Deklyn was continuing to have issues and possibly a condition known as mega-colon that prevents cats from passing stool normally. He is currently being treated with medication to help enable him to pass stool more easily and is doing well. This condition is common in cats with nerve injuries or spinal cord deformities and is likely related to the severing of his tail.

Deklyn is an incredibly quiet, gentle boy who has been a trooper throughout all his treatment. He is snuggly and affectionate and we have our fingers crossed that we can get him healthy and find him the loving home he deserves. He currently needs a foster home. Just look into his eyes - he is begging for someone to love him!

Deklyn receiving care at the Victoria Veterinary Clinic

These special cats are deserving of the best care possible, but it is costly for us at a time when our numbers are high and we have 80 kittens awaiting sterilization. If you would like to contribute towards the vet care for Gretzky and Deklyn, you can make a secure on-line donation through our website at www.reginacatrescue.com or mail a cheque to our PO Box: PO Box 33066, Cathedral Postal Outlet, Regina Sk, S4T 7X2.

-Alanna