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Ivar was born in one of the many feral cat colonies dotting Hawaii. Early in his life, he got into a fight with a mongoose. These invasive carnivorous mammals were originally brought to the islands in the late 19th century to rid sugar cane fields of destructive rats. Yet, their ancestors wreak havoc on the state's ailing feral cat population.
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While Ivar could defend himself, it cost him his back left foot, which the mongoose chewed off. The predator even got away with one of the toes on his back right foot.
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After Ivar was rescued, he was neutered and was getting ready to be relegated back to the colony from which he came. After Clowder House Feline Rescue caught wind of this on the Facebook page Catopia Hawaii, Skyla and Donald Hammond jumped to the rescue.
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The duo received Ivar when he was two months old. While any kitten is spry and energetic, Ivar was in bad condition, suffering from a severe upper respiratory infection and a belly full of parasites.
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"When we first took him in, he was so sick, I don't know how they went ahead and neutered him," Skyla said. "We weren't sure he was going to live."
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However, he pulled through and has since been one of the anchors of Clowder House Feline Rescue's roster of special needs cats. Nearly all have spinal injuries. The team is working to provide them better access to mobility, and Ivar is finally getting an opportunity to undergo amputation to allow him to walk.
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Skyla said Ivar has been trying to contort his body to stand and move around. However, his leg is too mangled. "If he puts the stump down on the floor, he yanks it back up because it hurts," she explained.
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Nevertheless, Ivar probably doesn't remember life without his handicap. The only issue keeping him back now is when his right ear gets itchy, at which he'll kick with what he has left of a back leg. Luckily, he has two full-time loving caregivers to ensure his scratching needs are met.
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Last month, veterinarian Dr. Nathaniel Lam of VCA Family and Oahu Veterinary Specialty Center reviewed Ivar's condition to see if he was a candidate for a prosthesis. Unfortunately, there aren't enough tendons left to meet Ivar's mobility needs. Though, he did recommend an amputation.
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Clowder House Feline Rescue recently spoke with veterinarian Dr. Reena Shah at Mililani Mauka Veterinary Clinic, who provided Ivar's caregivers with an amputation plan. They believe the procedure will relieve Ivar's pain and allow him to walk on three legs. The surgery is expensive, and the rescue group has set up a fundraiser to help with costs, but they have gone to the moon and back for their other rescues, and Ivar is no different.
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