🩶 During my trip to Cyprus this August, I found a mother cat, Nutmeg, and her three kittens (Cheese Puff, Oliver, and Smokey), along with their female friend, Florence, who had been visiting my hotel room for a few evenings. I planned to take the adults to be neutered and have the kittens checked and treated for the usual issues at my trusted and wonderful Cyprus vets—Tasos Kefalas in Paralimni. Florence, in particular, had a painful mouth and was drooling, so I arranged for her dental treatment while she was under anesthesia, as well.
🩶 After hours of trapping them and getting them safely inside, I noticed a handsome, unneutered grey and white male cat (whom I've named Grey 🩶) sitting under a poolside sunbed. He looked thin, tired, and sad, so I offered him food, which he devoured. Thinking "the more, the merrier," I set up a trap for him as well. To my surprise, he walked right into it and spent the night there, sleeping.
🩶 The next morning, I took all of them to the vet—checking in the adults and keeping the kittens with me after their treatment. That afternoon, I received heartbreaking news: Grey had difficulty breathing under anesthesia, and his chest and abdomen had filled with fluid. The diagnosis was FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), a devastating and fatal condition. I was in tears on the phone, faced with the painful decision of what to do.
🩶 The vet informed me that they could try him on treatment and give him a lottery chance at life, but it would mean three months of daily medication, injections, and regular vet visits, and would be a costly process. I only had a day and a half left in Cyprus, so I couldn’t stay to care for him myself, though I would have in a heartbeat if I was there. Grey wasn't well enough to fly, and all the dedicated rescuers there were already overwhelmed caring for other animals in need.
🩶 The vet warned me that if I put Grey back on the streets, he would die a terrible death, so in that case, euthanasia would be advisable. I prayed for a miracle and to know what to do, but the guilt and sadness weighed heavily on me.
🩶 A life shouldn't end just because there's a lack of money or practical care needed 🩶
🩶 So, some may call it madness, but I couldn’t bear the thought of ending his life simply because my holiday was coming to an end, or due to a shortage of funds or a caregiver. I decided to trust that everything we needed would fall into place for Grey.
🩶 After 24 hours of agonizing over the decision, I decided that Grey deserved a chance at life. I committed to keeping him at the vet for three months to undergo FIP treatment. He is a beautiful boy and deserves to live, especially as he's only about 18 months old!
🩶 However, Grey was very unwell, requiring the removal of a significant amount of fluid from his chest and abdomen during surgery, though the fluid began to refill the next day. (You can see the x-ray photos comparing a healthy kitten's chest and abdomen to Grey's, where most of the empty spaces were filled with fluid). Despite this, I went to visit Grey, explaining to him what was happening. He looked so sad, weak, and scared—it was incredibly difficult to walk away, but I knew he was in the best hands.
🩶 Since then, Grey has been responding well to treatment, and his body is showing positive signs of recovery. A couple of weeks ago, he had a setback with cat flu, which took a toll on him and required additional nursing and treatment. Thankfully, he has now fully recovered and is looking much brighter!
🩶 The vet mentioned that initially, Grey was very scared and had become aggressive during treatments. However, now that he’s feeling better and getting to know the team, he’s much more trusting and friendly, allowing them to treat him without trouble.
🩶 A huge thank you to Tasos Kefalas, Maria, Maritza, Lucas, and the entire wonderful team.🙏
💫 I am still actively seeking a foster home in Cyprus where someone can administer Grey’s intensive treatment and take him for frequent vet visits for the next couple of months.
💫 Eventually, he will need a loving forever home too! I have 7 of my own rescue cats (including 4 from Cyprus), so can't take in anymore.
💫 If you, or anyone you know could provide either a Foster or Forever home for Grey, please reach out 🙏
*The garden would need to be cat-proofed to prevent him from getting out and to keep him calm and safe. Even after the completion of treatment, he will remain vulnerable and could relapse if exposed to infections from the street or stressful environments, for example.
🩶 Any donations towards the total cost of this precious boy's treatment, care and boarding, would be so appreciated. Thank you in advance...Grey and I are so grateful 🙏 🩶
*Please note: The receipt below is for August's bill only.