An emergency operation, an unexpected allergy, long-term care and concern over her quality of life.
Could we find the right treatment, and the right home for her?
An emergency op
December 2023 and a scruffy, listless cat with blood around her nose is taken to Rosemary Lodge Vet Hospital as a stray needing help. We agree to pay for her treatment.
She has an emergency operation because of a suspected hernia, but it is much worse. Her abdominal wall is ruptured - a break a whopping 5cm long. This injury is often caused by trauma, such as a car accident or fall.
It’s a delicate operation, as mesh and sutures close the internal wound and a drain for fluids temporarily put in. Artemis comes to the rehoming centre for recovery. But then…
Something new to worry about
It started with some marks on her face, and we can see her scratching. Our on-site vets confirm she has facial dermatitis and an ear infection. She is put on a course of medication and must wear a cone since she is very itchy and this is a physical barrier to stop her scratching so it can heal.
It takes a few weeks to find the food and medication that helps her condition, as she seems to be allergic to some everyday medication. A diet of hypoallergenic food plus nutraceuticals proves crucial, as any changes to this flare up her disease.
Concern for her mental health
Although her face is healing, the combination of four weeks’ bed rest, wearing the cone and having intensive treatment, her behaviour deteriorates. She is very shut down, becoming defensive when approached.
Holistic working… and a change for the better
The Animal Care and Vet teams meet to make an emergency plan to find a balance of her treatment and her quality of life. They agree she can have the cone off and stop the medications that require hands-on treatment. It has its risks, and she is put under increased (discrete!) monitoring and the teams have regular check-ins.
Artemis improves dramatically and within days. She is no longer scratching and is much more relaxed around people – she spends time in the cattery office so we can monitor if she scratches, and we see she is becoming sociable as she greets people coming in.
All cats are very sensitive to their environment, but Arty clearly shows it. She loves time in the kitten playroom and in the secure cat enrichment garden, possibly as these were areas not associated with anything negative to do with her treatment.
A change of scenery
We knew she would benefit greatly from a foster home, and she was taken in by one of our foster volunteers Lydia, “Artemis has been very sweet and loving on foster. She has also been very playful. Artemis would be a great companion for anyone who is looking for an affectionate cat.”
Arty loved the extra freedom and watchful care from our trained fosterer. It must have showed as Arty showed herself well when her adopter came to choose.
And finally, adoption
Just over a year from us first meeting her, Miss Arty is adopted at the end of 2024. We received an update that week, as they knew we would be worried!
“Just thought I'd share pictures of Miss Arty's first few days. She has settled in so well already here and, thank you to Lydia as I know a huge part of that is because of her time on foster. Reading her behaviour report she has come so far.
She is out exploring the house and has joined me on the sofa for the first time this morning. She already has a few favourite spots and especially likes to sit up on the windowsill in her room watching the world go by.”
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Artemis is just one of 505 pets cared for and adopted last year at Bath Cats & Dogs Home in 2024. If you can, please donate to make sure the next cat or dog at our doors gets the chance for a new beginning too.