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| Bad Boy Prince and his 'gang' |
Prince is a gray tabby male with a white chest, a feral that has been coming around our yard for years. He wasn't a well-loved cat as the other adult cats in the yard (especially the females) would disappear when he showed up. We think this was mainly because he liked to fight... or so it seemed. But... in the last few months, we had a clan of youngsters (we call them our 4 black Velaciraptors) that took a liking to Prince - probably because they were young teenage cats and Prince was the king of the Bad Boys. Anyway, he's come into the yard, eat, hang around a little while, and then leave... until the next meal time.
Well, we hadn't seen him in almost a week and were beginning to wonder where he was. But Friday noon, I heard a howling in the back yard and looked out the window. Didn't see anything, but just as I did this, DH walked into the kitchen and looked out the french doors... and said, "Oh, my god!" I ran over and looked. Prince was on our patio actually eating, but from his hips down he was flat. He was dragging himself around using his front legs only. We both nearly died when we saw him.
Decided that even though he was feral, we'd have to try to catch him and get him to the Vet. But the little bugger was really fast with his front legs and DH chased him all the way down to the creek before being able to get a towel over him. Even then Prince fought him, hissing and spitting and trying to bite. We soon realized that we wouldn't be able to get him to a Vet by ourselves and since it was noon, probably they were closed for lunch... so while DH held him covered up, I ran in and called the Animal Shelter. They immediately sent 2 men out to pick him up. Looking at his condition, they said that they would have a Vet check him, but more than likely, he would have to be put down. We told them we realized that... he had to be in a lot of pain... but it was amazing that he still had so much fight in him. And even though our local shelter is 'no-kill', some cats are not suitable for adoption (and more than likely Prince's condition and his disposition would put him in this category.)
5 comments:
I feel heart-sick reading this, but bless you both...at least his suffering would have been shortened, rather than prolonged.
Godspeed, Prince. Run free at the Bridge.
I felt sick reading this ...i hate when cats are in pain ...Who knows whether he would have survived this ...I doubt it ...his quality of life would have been poor and who knows how bad the pain was ...you did the right thing ...even though it was hard.xx
I would have done the same thing. The thought of that poor cat dying a slow, painful death would have been too much to bear. It seems almost heroic that he survived such a horrible injury for who knows how many days, and still managed to come to you for food. There is a special kind of love in those who take care of kitties in every circumstance.
I applaud you for being on of them!
I know we did the right thing... but still feel bad about it. And am still absolutely amazed that he could 'function' at all the way he was injured. He certainly had a strong heart.
Oh so sad but at least he isn't suffering any longer.
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