Kit Kat the Senior Survivor

We awarded Thornberry Animal Sanctuary a £38,778 grant towards veterinary equipment to help them treat the animals in their care, like Kit Kat.

Sweet Kit Kat was in a pitiful state

When Kit Kat, a 14-year-old domestic shorthair, arrived at Thornberry Animal Sanctuary, she was in critical need of care. Sadly, her owner had passed away, and it was clear she was in a fragile state.

She was dangerously underweight, her fur was matted, and she was having difficulty eating, which they believed was due to advanced dental disease. They also discovered an ingrown claw had embedded itself into her paw pad, causing inflammation and infection.

The vet team quickly sprang into action

Beyond her visible ailments, the rescue suspected that Kit Kat might have underlying health issues contributing to her condition. Using their newly acquired in-house blood machine, thanks to the funds from the grant, they ran a full blood panel to gain deeper insight into her health.

The results revealed an elevated T4 level, confirming that Kit Kat had hyperthyroidism. This condition accelerates the metabolism, causing weight loss, increased appetite, and other complications if left untreated.

Kit Kat’s care and road to recovery

The team put together an immediate treatment care plan that included starting her on a carefully balanced diet to restore her weight, establishing a regular grooming routine, performing dental surgery to remove decayed teeth, and trimming her ingrown claw while treating the infection antibiotics.

Long term, Kit Kat was prescribed lifelong thyroid medication to manage her hyperthyroidism.

Under the rescue’s dedicated care, Kit Kat showed remarkable improvement. She gained weight and adopted a healthy appetite. Her energy levels improved, and she’s rediscovered her love for gentle play and affection, all while sporting a soft and healthy coat thanks to routine grooming regime.

Why diagnostic equipment matters

The rescue says, “Kit Kat’s story highlights the importance of having advanced diagnostic tools like our blood machine. Without it, identifying her hyperthyroidism could have taken weeks, delaying her treatment and prolonging her suffering. By diagnosing her condition in-house, we were able to take swift action and set her on the road to recovery.”

A furever commitment to Kit Kat’s wellbeing

Kit Kat’s thyroid medication will be a lifelong expense, and Thornberry Animal Sanctuary is committed to funding her treatment and providing her with the support she needs. The sweet senior deserves to live happily in her golden years, and they’re honoured to be a part of her journey.

She’s now in her new loving foster home, where she will be able to live out her remaining days surrounded by care and comfort.

Multi-coloured cat with matted hair lying on a vet table. IDEXX blood machine sitting on a table. Multi-coloured cat sitting in front of a pink food bowl with food in it.