In June 2006, Khat turned up in Carol's neighbourhood begging for food. When she realized how hungry he was, she set down a dish for him in the woodshed where she thought he could hang out until his family claimed him. He was so scared, he wouldn't even go into the shed not even for food! He would only eat out in the open.
We sent out word and nine different families came to see Khat hoping that he might be their lost pet, but nobody took him away. His great fear of being confined, combined with Carol's allergies meant that she could not take him in, and it seemed unlikely that anybody else would adopt him either, so he became "a CAWES cat." He has been dining on Carol's porch twice daily ever since. With much patience over the last six years, Carol has gradually managed to convince Khat that people aren't so bad after all.
Although Khat's life wasn't great, it was okay and he was getting along - until a few days ago when something awful happened to him. As Carol tells it, "Khat went for a stroll last Wednesday, June 6, and did not make it home for his dinner; in six years this was a first. We kept looking for him until it got quite late and finally a small, dark shadow appeared at the bottom of the steps. It was only when he could not climb the steps for his food that we realized something was terribly wrong with one of his hind legs. He had somehow managed to limp home on three legs with the fourth just dangling."
Next day, at the vet clinic X-rays revealed that Khat's leg had been shattered in eight places! Dr. Westcott does not believe that he was hit by a moving vehicle. His best guess is that the damage was from a blow with a very hard object. We suspect this blow may have been deliberately inflicted but truly hope that there is another explanation.
Dr. Westcott set the leg and put a cast on, but Khat managed to wiggle this off in no time and trying to re-cast just wasn't going to work. Odds were not great that the leg might have mended anyway, but now they were really low. Surgery to repair the damage is way beyond our financial resources, so the only other option open to us was amputation. We couldn't have Khat euthanized. After all he has been through we just could not give up on him now.
When Khat lost his leg on the operating table, it also meant an end to his outdoor independence. Fortunately, we live in a wonderfully caring community with people who will step up when it's needed. Dani of the Cat Cottage has offered to provide the care and indoor space that Khat needs while he recuperates. She will need some financial support and perhaps other kinds of assistance, but there have been so many caring people involved that we are optimistic. Dr. Westcott helped us make this difficult decision and performed the surgery for the cost of materials only, for which we are most grateful.
Life outside, without a caring family has been hard for dear old Khat. Somewhere in his life, there has been trauma that has made him suspicious and careful around people. He can be sweet and affectionate at times, but we suspect that some really bad things must have happened to him before he came under the CAWES umbrella . On top of all of this, he now has to learn to get around on only three legs! He is also going to have to learn to like the indoors at least until he can function like a regular cat again.
Although we have just completed a fairly big fundraising campaign, much of what we earned at this event has already been spoken for, which is why we are appealing for some specific help for this special guy. In case you would like to sponsor Khat, we are leaving a few donation boxes in strategic locations such as Bowen's Vet Clinic, Bowen's Little Pet Store, Out of the Blue, and the Flower Shop. Anything donated in his name will go towards helping him recover. He's just an old moggy who still has some of his nine lives left. We feel he deserves a chance.
If you would like to adopt Khat when he has healed or even while he is healing or can offer a foster home short term or for life, please contact us. Thanks so much for your continued support.
The CAWES group
