Special Kitty Rescue Stories

Krazy for Kats Rescue has been a safe haven for the cats and kittens that need our extra support.
From the fabulous felines born with deformities or those kitties that have faced difficult challenges of neglect, abuse or trauma. Here are some stories to warm your heart and remind you that no animal deserves to be unloved or abandoned.

MEET KIMBA - THE WHITE LION TRIPOD

Our interest in helping special needs kitties started when we took in a young kitten that needed his back leg amputated. We named him “Kimba” after the brave White Lion in the children’s fable.

This is his story…

Kimba was found digging through a garbage can in South Central LA.  He was 6 months old, starving to death and suffering from a fractured hind leg. The kind soul that rescued him was a homeless teen living on the streets. He too, was just struggling to stay alive. Maybe it was a chance meeting… but at just the right time, Kimba and this young boy crossed paths and their lives changed forever.

He desperately wanted to keep the kitty but realized that his injuries were too great and brought Kimba to local homeless shelter. He asked if they could sleep there for the night and manager said yes, but told him she would need contact an animal rescue group for help and reached out to Krazy for Kats. 

When I answered the phone, I was told that a “black and white kitten with a broken leg” needed to be saved tonight or it would need to be put back out on the streets. I told the shelter manager to bring the kitty over to our rescue and we could take him in immediately and get him the proper medical care.

Kimba was brought to our rescue group and I was shocked at the 1000’s of fleas that were embedded into his skin and head. No wonder the manger called him a black and white cat!  Kimba was given a bath and his infestation was so severe the water turned blood red.  He was literally being eaten alive! 

After 2 hours of pulling off fleas, his beautiful white coat stunned me! 

He looked like an angel kitty!  During his care, Kimba purred and looked up at me with his big, blue eyes. He just wanted to snuggle into my arms and I felt he was saying… “Thank you for taking me off the streets and giving me a chance to survive!”

Kimba was brought to the veterinary hospital the next morning and had to undergo surgery to fix his broken leg. The vet said he was hit by a car and also attacked by an animal due to his deep bite wounds. He was not sure what the outcome would be and fitted Kimba with a full leg cast for 1 month saying; “Cross your fingers and hope for the best.”

Unfortunately, the infection spread to the bone and his leg did not mend properly. The vet told us with 100% certainty that Kimba needed to have his leg amputated. Thankfully, Kimba’s surgery went very well and his new life as a “Tri-Pawd” had begun.

MEET OUR SWEET BLIND KITTIES

 Little Nemo and Sailor were found living in a feral cat colony on the streets of Los Angeles and struggling to survive. They were starving to death because they were born with a rare eye condition called “Entropion.” This genetic disease causes the eyelids to turn inward and cats suffer from cornea irritation, pain and infection of the eye. When a kitten has this condition, they are not able to see to search for food and are also attacked by other cats in the colonies because they are not healthy.

Nemo was only 6 weeks old and Sailor was 2 months at the time of rescue. They were covered in fleas and had bite marks and open wounds from the other feral cats. Once we got them home, we gave them a bath and they enjoyed a warm meal and a cozy bed for the first time in their life! The next day we brought the kittens to the hospital for a medical exam. The vet said they were sorry but both of Sailor’s eyes were too damaged and would need to be removed. He would now be completely blind. Nemo, on the other hand, was able to have surgery to remove his upper eyelids so he could have partial sight as he grew older.

Working with special needs kitties tugs at your heart strings so when it comes time for adoption it has to be the right home. We were very thankful to meet a wonderful family who looked beyond their vision challenges and took BOTH kittens together into their fur-ever home. It was a kitty Success Story!

A GODDESS KITTY CALLED ISIS!

An oriental tortie who was dumped on the streets of LA in 2011 and found suffering from such horrific skin disorders that she was barely recognizable as a cat! By the time she was rescued, poor Isis had scratched all the fur off her face and stomach due to the intense itching from mange, flea dermatitis and an ear mite infestation. This little kitty looked like a monster and the damage to her body was nothing I had ever seen.

 At her 1st visit to the vet I feared the worse.  Isis also has severe mastitis and her mammary glands were swollen shut so could not feed her newborn kittens. Three babies had already died and the others were barely alive. Isis was such a tiny girl and pregnant at 6 months of age!

When Isis came to Krazy For Kats, we did not think she would make it past the first few nights. She would look at us with her big Cleopatra eyes and I was determined to give this sweet kitty the life she truly deserved.

Isis required round the clock care and medical treatments to bring her health back.  She was literally chewing off the skin off her body. I would hear cry out in pain at night when she tried to stop only to resume her obsessive licking to get some relief.

In order to help Isis heal, the vet prescribed strong medications to reduce her inflammation and stress.  I decided the best way I could help her mammary infection was to hold Isis upside down on her back and put a heating pad on her tummy to open the glands so she could nurse again.

Isis and I became best friends and we would lie in my bed for hours watching “Catwoman” while I stroked her fur-less face.  I made a body suit out of one of my ski socks to protect what was left of her skin. But no matter how long or painful her treatments were, Isis would always chirp her meow of thanks and give me kitty kisses.  

 People would stop by for adoption and make nasty comments that Isis looked like a drowned rat!  Of course, those people all got a lecture from me about finding the beauty in all of earth’s creatures.

Then one day, after Isis had been in treatment for 6 months and doing very well, a lovely lady named Connie stopped by for a visit.  She had been following Isis on our website and watched her you-tube video.  Connie wanted to meet Isis and upon her arrival called her the “prettiest kitty she had ever seen” and adopted her on the spot.

Because Isis’s condition was also exaggerated by food and environmental allergies, she was put on a raw food diet and given steroid shots.  She was with Connie for many years and recently transitioned over the Rainbow Bridge a gorgeous, happy cat.  

CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S DARING RESCUE!

After the 2010 Christmas holidays, I got a message from another rescue worker named Cathy that there was a mommy cat and her babies dumped off in the Glendale Home Depot parking lot.  She was not able to catch them and needed some help.  Because rescue does TNR, I loaded up my car with traps, nets and kitty carriers and ran over as fast as I could.

The employees at Home Depot had been trying to catch the kittens since they were little but could never do it.  They said a customer drove on to the lot, opened their car door and threw the kittens out. They did not seeing a mom cat and they were getting worried for the babies.  Luckily the kittens were being fed by the employees and Cathy, who lived close by.

The 1st day I went to the location and there was no sight of the kittens. I came back around later that day and finally spotted the 3 babies under the shopping carts!  I gathered up as many Home Depot people as I could find for the rescue mission!  The manager came out to help and were able to catch 2 of the 3 babies very quickly.

To my frustration, we couldn't catch the last kitty who ran off on the other side of the building.  He was a little black and white kitten that we named Charlie Chaplin because of his black moustache.  That night, I waited for him to come back out until 1am and then I had to go home.

The hardest part of trying to rescue young kittens is that if you don't get them all at once it can sometimes be impossible to catch the very last one.  They will usually go into hiding.

Well, that's what happened. Chaplin disappeared for almost 2 weeks !  I had rescue workers and everyone at Home Depot looking for him.  I was there almost every day at ALL hours searching for him to no avail.  Then the big rains came and I thought for sure he was lost for good.  I was sick to death that this poor kitty was all alone with no family to protect him in the freezing cold.  Most young kittens do not survive weather conditions like this.

FINALLY THE CALL I WAS WAITING FOR CAME IN!  

The manager at Home Depot spotted Chaplin under the shopping carts again!  I immediately rushed over and with the help of employees AND customers we succeeded in trapping the kitty and I got him safely home.

Now for the unpleasant part of the story.  Rescue work can be very difficult when you have a sick or injured  kitten come through.  

What happened to Chaplin was that he had a huge fecal mass the size of a baseball stuck under his tail. To top it off it was full of maggots!  The poor thing could have been eaten alive if he was not rescued!  He must have been trapped somewhere while he was out in the rain and not able to move to go potty!

The moment I got him safe inside my house, I began cleaning him up. We had bath time and I started him on a series of medications to help with any infection.  He has recovered nicely now and has been adopted into a great new home! Rescuing kittens is a joy for us all!

SUPER SENIORS NEED LOVE TOO!

Meet Jackie Chan, our beloved 13 year old senior tabby, was found dumped at the shelter and was suffering from cataracts in both eyes and weight loss from severe feline diabetes. My heart went out to him when I got the call to rescue and I brought him to my own home.

Jackie boy was already skin and bones, but was able to put on some weight with good food and lots of love. This sweetheart was a fan favorite and he loved hanging out with my own senior cat crew. Sadly, Jackie Chan completely lost his vision and then passed away 6 months later from complications of his illness. He enjoyed his time lounging in the sun and was showered with kitty kisses and lots of snuggle time. It brings me relief to know that his final days were filled with love and happiness

TERRIFIC TRIPODS ANGEL & SQUIRREL!

krazy for Kats specializes in the rescue and adoption of disabled and medically challenged cats/kittens as well as the elderly pets that are often left in shelters to die.  We also work with LA Animal Services, Fixnation and LA Animal task force with severe hoarding cases. A few years ago we were able to save these gorgeous kittens from a county shelter that were only 2 months old. Each had to have one of their front legs amputated due to severe injury! Baby Squirrel was saved by a neighbor when she was a teenager trying to run over the kitten with a lawnmower. Thank goodness she got there in time but not until his leg was already mangled! Angel, our other tabby boy was hit by a car and left to die in the streets. Another good Samaritan brought his to the closest animal shelter for care. Both kittens had to go intensive surgeries but the vet could not save their legs. Loosing a front limb is the hardest of all for kitties that rely on their balance and agility skills to survive. After all the medical treatments were complete, we were able to find these amazing boys a wonderful home together where they are now thriving and completely adored!