Let Love Live On ❤️ Help Support Betty's Fund
January 17, 2022 would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday. At that time, Stray Cat Blues participated in the “Betty White Challenge”. This national fundraising campaign recognized Betty White’s love of animals and encouraged the public to support local rescue groups. That date also marked the inception of Stray Cat Blue’s ongoing Betty’s Fund.
Our Betty was a rescued kitten who succumbed to the often-fatal virus called Panleukopenia (Panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper, is caused by the feline parvovirus. The virus attacks the rapidly growing cells in an unvaccinated kitten’s body, especially the bone marrow, creating a life-threatening shortage of white blood cells. Without costly, aggressive treatment, the vast majority of kittens die from overwhelming infection and dehydration). According to the National Institute of Health, Parvovirus in cats has a mortality rate of close to 90% for young kittens, even those who receive intensive care.
Every year our volunteer fosters take in hundreds of kittens. Unfortunately, among them are often some cases of Panleukopenia. This year was no exception.
Naomi and her 3 babies came to Stray Cat Blues from a colony in Pottstown. Naomi decided to have her kittens right in the middle of the lawn, under an electric box in an apartment complex. A Stray Cat Blues trapper responded and this little family was brought into foster care so momma could finish nursing in a safe environment.
Benny, Boaz and Hannah before symptoms
After 10 days in care. All kittens began vomiting, having watery diarrhea and stopped nursing and eating. They were about 4-5 weeks at this time. Momma Naomi also had decreased appetite and diarrhea. A parvo test was performed and to our dismay it was positive. Knowing the mortality rate was very high, around the clock supportive care was provided to the kittens for the next week, using SQ fluids, syringe feeds, multiple medications, vet visits and support from other Stray Cat Blues fosters. The babies were losing weight at an alarming rate. It was very frightening and daunting.
Finally, day 5-6 after the first symptoms appeared all three kittens and momma started eating an enormous amount of food on their own. They broke through the nasty virus and were now on the mend! We were so excited, though very exhausted, thinking the entire family had pulled through! Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Two days after the “breakthrough” little Benny, the smallest of the litter, collapsed and died suddenly. Likely due to an overwhelming infection post illness. It was heartbreaking. While sweet Benny did sadly succumb, his siblings Hannah and Boaz continued to recover and went on to forever homes. Feral momma, Naomi, received absolutely no treatment during the illness. She was very aggressive and we were unable to safely treat her. Aside from a flaming mastitis, she made a full recovery and went on to a barn home.
Benny was special and his life mattered. We don’t get to give him that happy ending, but we can do our best to make sure that other kittens with panleukopenia, and other potentially fatal diseases, will have a fighting chance. By donating to Betty’s Fund, you can give others the chance at a life that Benny (and Betty before him) should have had.