Rescued Special Needs Cat Preparing For Amputation To Give Him A Chance At Greater Mobility

Alex Lemieux

Sep 14, 2022 5:00 PM EDT

A few years ago, a woman was walking her dog on Molokai, and as the pair passed by a series of bushes, the dog smelled something and dove his nose into the hedgerow. However, when the dog emerged from the bushes, there was a tiny, four-week-old kitten in his mouth. Reportedly, the dog "shook" the defenseless kitten, causing severe harm.

Luckily, the woman was able to separate the kitten from her dog's mouth and took it home to figure out how to save the injured kitten's life as there were no veterinarians on the island.

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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

Running out of options, she called the local animal shelter later that evening to see how they could help. As Skyla Hammond of Clowder House Feline Rescue tearfully told, a shelter volunteer said, "well, just put him in the freezer, and he'll die." Fortunately, the woman didn't take that volunteer's advice and stayed up all night feeding the kitten honey to keep his blood sugar up, and he pulled through. However, a puncture in his spinal column meant he no longer had use of his back legs.
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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

"I cry almost every time I tell the story," Skyla said. Unfortunately, many cats with spinal injuries are deemed a burden, but the work pursued by Clowder House Feline Rescue proves that wrong. Each cat has a special place in this world.
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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

Years later, Skyla and her husband Donald were led to the cat through Dr. Nathaniel Lam, a VCA Family and Oahu Veterinary Specialty Center veterinarian who is no stranger to the spinal-injured cats in which Clowder House Feline Rescue specializes. The white and gray cat, now named Lieutenant Dan, had spent most of his time in a cage as he likes to explore his surroundings despite his handicap, sometimes "getting into trouble."
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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

Although Skyla and Don weren't planning on rehoming Lieutenant Dan, they just couldn't resist his charm and the fact that he's a fighter. Now three years old, Lieutenant Dan tries mercifully to get up and stand on his own, but his back left leg is stiff, and when he attempts to rise, the kneecap in his back right leg slides out of place.
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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

Dr. Lam, who knows Lieutenant Dan very well, explained that "the left leg is in the way," keeping him from standing. Until that leg—which cannot be rehabbed—is removed, there isn't anything to do for the right leg.
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via Clowder House Feline Rescue

Fortunately, Lieutenant Dan is scheduled to have the leg removed on October 19. Skyla and Donald have big hopes for him as he's already trying to walk. Although the amputation will cost at least $6,000, it's more than worth it to give him his mobility back, and they have launched a fundraiser so people can be involved with Lieutenant Dan's future and see his progress.