Success Stories!
Amazing tales of survival, recovery, and medical triumphs
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When Boots was found at age 1 month, it was suggested that he be "put down" because of the nature of his illness. He had an anal fistula which had developed gangrene, and to make matters wrose, his little "insides" just didn't work right. He was either so impacted that his hind end swelled like a baboon's, or he had violent diarrhea. He spent may a day in the hospital being treated for one condition or the other. When he was home with his foster mom and feeling well, he was a good eater. When he started to "back up" again, he stopped eating and cried when trying to use his litter box and was just generally miserable. Even though he had to endure enemas, and "butt baths", administration of mineral oil, etc., etc., etc., he remained the sweetest thing on four feet! Boots is a long-haired black and white male with big green eyes. I think it was those eyes that "got to me" the most. No matter what I was doing to him, he'd look at me with those big, trusting eyes, and I knew he was a special cat! Because of his illness, he was a scrawny little guy with fur that was thin and sort of stuck out. One doctor said that about all he had going for him was his personality. He's a hugger and a kisser and will bestow these gifts on anyone who sits still for more than 2 seconds.

When he didn't seem to be getting better, our rescue group took him to the Cat Hospital of Chicago where the doctor "scoped" him [endoscopic study] and prescribed Enulose syrup (a laxative) and Cisapride to encourage intestinal motility. It was also recommended that he see a surgeon for a possible butt repair surgery. The surgeon was not too encouraging at first, saying that he wasn't sure that Bootsie's insides "worked" and, if they didn't, there was no sense in doing the surgery. He sent us home to see if the medicine would work, and asked us to come back in a week. We kept a daily diary of what he ate, (I had to cook turkey for him--it was the only thing he would eat), when he took his medicine, and if and when he pooped. This went on for several months, with his checkups with the surgeon being spaced further and further apart as he slowly but surely improved. The first time he had a normal bowel movement 4 days in a row, Bootsie and I danced and cried (well, I cried!).

When Bootsie had a diary history that indicated that he had normal bowel movements almost every day for a month, the doctor pronounced that Boots had "turned the corner," which he was elated to say as he wasn't really sure when he first examined him that that would ever happen! Even better news was the fact that he didn't really need the surgery any more, either! Over the next month, we weaned him off his medications and today, at 18 months of age, he's a big, healthy 10 pounds with gorgeous, silky fur and a personality that wins everyone's heart. He was adopted (by ME, of course!) and lives with 4 other cats (2 "seniors," Buckaroo and Buttercup; a 3 year old no-longer-feral sister, Rumbles; and brother Billy, who was his best buddy while they were growing up in my foster care.) He still jumps in visitors' laps without an invitation, puts his paws around their necks, and plants a big, juicy kiss on their face.

Many thanks to the Cat Hospital of Chicago and Norwood Park Animal Hospital for providing the expertise that helped Boots on his road to recovery.