After Being Abandoned By His Family, Neglected Cat Struggles To Survive On California Streets
Cats of San Bernardino is an incredible non-profit dedicated to helping cats and kittens who are fighting to survive on the streets of California.
Since starting the organisation, Jaina and Ivy, together with their devoted volunteers, have rescued countless animals who might not have made it otherwise.
Recently, Jaina got a call about a cat who needed help right away. What she didn’t know then was just how serious his condition really was.
When the team finally reached the spot where the cat was hiding, they were shocked by what they saw.
His fur was terribly matted, and every movement suggested he was in pain.
That first day, Jaina’s team couldn’t catch him because he was too frightened of people.
He had once known life as an indoor cat, but after being abandoned by his family, he lost all trust in humans.
Determined to help him, Jaina came back the next morning and placed a trap. Fortunately, he walked right in and his rescuers named him Aegis. As Jaina posted on Instagram:
“Although he didn’t want to be caught, he is very sweet to his caretaker and had an indoor family life before. After he decompresses, we’re sure he will be a sweetheart with us, too.”
They wasted no time getting him to the vet, where his matted fur was carefully shaved away. It was then that Jaina was given some heartbreaking news.
In addition to being FIV positive, they found something else that worried Jaina and her team. As she posted in an update:
“A mass was found in the back of Aegis’ throat. The mass is most likely why he wasn’t grooming and had those huge mats. The mass was removed and has been sent away to see if it is cancerous.”
Shaken by the vet’s words, Jaina decided to bring Aegis home so he could finally have a safe place to rest.
The vet estimated he was around ten years old, and Jaina’s deepest hope was that he could enjoy his senior years in comfort, surrounded by love and care.
After almost a week, the test result came back. Jaina was afraid it would come back positive, but to everyone’s surprise, she had some good news. As she shared:
“Our beautiful boy got some amazing news. The mass in his mouth wasn’t cancerous! He does have a few other things going on, but they aren’t anything we can’t handle.”
Though Aegis still needed treatment for a few other health problems, the wonderful update meant he could now look forward to living out his days as a happy, healthy cat.
The gentle boy was set to undergo dental surgery to have all of his decayed teeth removed.
Even with so many hurdles behind him, the care and love of his rescuers helped Aegis begin a steady journey toward recovery. As Jaina said in an update:
“Our beautiful boy is putting on weight and learning to trust and love. His mouth is bothering him, which is to be expected. He is heading back to the vet on Friday to check the area where the mass was removed and hopefully get his dental scheduled. His hair is growing back slowly, although a little patchy.”
When Aegis makes a full recovery, Jaina plans to find him a forever home where he’ll finally be cherished and cared for.
In the meantime, you can follow Jaina and her incredible team on Instagram!
