New year, new Hope.

On 2 January we received a call from a member of the public about a stray cat in their garden. The finder managed to get the cat inside and was hoping to scan the cat and find a microchip. They called Cats Protection for help and see if we could scan the cat for a microchip.

So, meet Hope, who got her name because all we could do was cross our fingers and really hope she made it through.

Upon arrival to the centre the first we noticed about Hope was the smell. Her poor tail had an infection; the skin had been stripped away leaving an open infected wound. Hope was also seriously underweight weighing just 2.6 kg. Sadly, she was not microchipped but needed immediate veterinary care.

She was rushed straight to our vet for an examination. The vets advised that, to give Hope the best chance of overcoming the infection and recovering, her tail would need to be amputated immediately. As a result, almost her entire tail was removed such was the spread of infection present.

Hope is now recovering at the centre with pain relief and antibiotics & a rather funky collar to stop her licking at her wound. The team are keeping her under close observation ensuring she has a low-sided litter tray, flat but thick bedding to settle in, raised food bowls with small portions over multiple meals to help build her weight gradually.

Hope has been a friendly and loving girl from the moment she arrived at the centre. She has coped remarkably well with the amputation, and we are doing everything possible to ensure her surgery has the best chance of success.

So far Hope’s veterinary treatment and care has come to £1000 and we’re hoping to fundraise to cover this but also ensure that we can be there to help the next cat or kitten like Hope.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, it will make a real difference. And if donating isn’t possible right now, you can still help by liking, commenting, and sharing this post to help us reach more animal lovers.

Any amount raised above the target will go towards helping the other cats and kittens at West Norfolk Cat Centre.

Cats Protection help more cats than any other organisation and we want to help millions more. We are a dedicated community of passionate employees, volunteers, supporters and partners, working together to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

We are the voice of cats in society and we speak up for their protection.

We’re working towards a society where every cat is treated with kindness and respect.

Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Find out more: www.cats.org.uk