Help Smokey to Breathe Easy

Smokey, a 6-month-old grey kitten, struggles to breathe and needs specialized tests and surgery. When he sleeps, he snores and snorts, and his throat and chest cave in. It sometimes seems like he will stop breathing. When he’s awake, he holds his mouth open, and breathes through his mouth. Eating is difficult because he has to eat a little, stop to breathe, and then eat a little more.

Smokey needs to have a C/T scan, nasal scope, and surgery for whatever is obstructing his nasal passage. Local vets do not have the specialized and tiny equipment necessary to help Smokey, and have referred him to the Purdue Small Animal Hospital. Smokey is scheduled to see a specialist on December 11. They tell us that the cost will be $3,000 -$4,000 for the tests and surgery. His vet bills have already totaled more than $1,000 so far.  

Smokey’s Story

 This summer, at a Hagrid’s Hope Cat Rescue yard sale fundraiser, a couple pulled up with 5 kittens they had found. They handed the kittens to a volunteer, and then drove away. The kittens were about 2 months old.

All 5 kittens were all sick with respiratory infections and were given antibiotics. They all recovered except for Smokey, who continued to snore and snort when he was sleeping. Over the past few months, he has been brought to the vet’s office 10 times, and put on antibiotics 7 times, as well as other medications. Despite all the medication, his condition has only worsened.

Several times, Smokey’s foster family called Hagrid’s Hope gravely concerned that Smokey was going to stop breathing. They are keeping him in an area with a humidifier and nebulizer, as per the vet’s instructions. They keep him propped up when he sleeps, and they stay with him 24/7. They are an amazing foster family, who have given him the best possible care.

Smokey is a sweet little guy who loves to be held, and loves to be with the other cats in the foster family’s home. His foster family wants very much to adopt him. Our rescue is trying to get him healthy so that he can live a happy life in his forever home.

Update: Smokey continues to have strong congestion and we are anxiously awaiting his appointment at Purdue on Dec. 11. We have been blessed with a generous donor who gave us the amount needed for the vet appointment. We are so grateful.

As the time got closer to the appointment date, we debating rescheduling because we did not have the funds. 

We will still have additional expenses for follow-up visits, medications, travel to Purdue, etc.  You can still donate to his continued care.