True Cat Rescue Stories from the Files of Touched By A Paw, Inc.

She was on her way to her next client; Kim, a social worker and one of our dearest volunteers was suddenly torn between her dedication to being on time for a human client or rescuing an injured kitten she had passed on the road.

It only took a split second for her to decide. She followed her heart and knew it was the right thing to do. Her human client would understand why she was late.

In five seconds Kim turned her car around in heavy traffic and pulled over to the small black fur that she had just seen dragging itself across the road, being barely missed by oncoming cars. In those few seconds Kim was aware of other vehicles slowing but none stopping to help this poor kitten.

Kim parked the car near the kitten and approached it with caution. She did not want to scare it back into traffic. She bent down to gently pick it up and suddenly, searing pain went through Kim's finger. Terrified, and in severe pain itself, the 7-week old kitten had bitten the hand that was trying to rescue it. Kim, herself now in pain, knew that she could possibly have a rabies infection. Plus, she knew that she could still lose the kitten. But still, overcome with pity for the baby kitten, she decided to come from a different angle and grabbed the kitten by the tuft of her neck as a mother cat would have done.

Kim placed the kitten on the floor of her car. Both Kim and the kitten had a very stressful drive to the shelter. By the time they reached the shelter, the kitten had crawled up under Kim's seat, and it took another volunteer (wearing gloves) to help it out and into a pet taxi. The kitten, later named Faith by her vet, Dr. Hartwig, was rushed by another volunteer to Geiger Vet Clinic.

Faith had suffered two broken legs, but had no other severe injuries. Dr. Hartwig operated on her and placed a pin in one leg and a cast on the other leg. They kept her partially sedated because she was not quite tame. However, the hissing and growling stopped within a few days. Faith was now comfortable, but she had limited activity. She adapted well to the cast and pin.

It was a big challenge to find diapers small enough that would stay on Faith. She had x-rays three weeks later to check her healing progress. Faith remained in foster care and received daily therapy to keep her knees and feet moving freely. (Kim's finger also did well by the way).

Faith fully recovered and was recently adopted into a loving home. Her ordeal over, she is enjoying running and playing with her new brother cat Sancho. When you think about the thousands of cats (kittens) across America, it's comforting to know that this one was blessed. Everything went right for her at the right moments.