Wednesday 28 June 2017

Greg Update


Greg is our lovable stray who came from the Midlands back in January. He was in such a terrible condition when he first came in, and he was aged as a senior cat with flu medications prescribed. Over time it became apparent that he was suffering from more than just a simple cold. Off his food and looking very sad he was taken into a foster home to bring him back to the energetic, lovable cat we knew he could be.

Four months on and several tests later we were still no closer to a diagnosis for Greg so the decision was made to make the journey to a specialist vet in Bristol for an ultrasound scan. Finally we have a diagnosis - Greg has a portosystemic shunt meaning the liver is not working to its full capacity and can have detrimental effects on his body and brain. This is a life threatening condition that without intervention would cause poor Greg to have short unhappy life.
Greg recovering at our local vets

In May we launched our Gorgeous Greg appeal hoping to raise £2,500 for this life living operation to repair his liver shunt. Greg travelled up to Bristol to have his liver shunt operation. Greg spent a week in their ICU whilst recovering from his operation. He did suffer some side effects now his liver was functioning properly and had to continue some of his medication. He returned to our local veterinary hospital for another week during his recovery process.
 
Back at Axhayes





Last week Greg returned to our adoption centre, still a bit wobbly on his legs but feeling more like himself, he is getting stronger day by day. He is back to his usual cuddly self. Over night he stays in his foster home with CCA Jackie. Our Gorgeous Greg appeal in the end raised £3,545, which is fantastic and we can't thank everyone enough for your generosity. We are slowly reducing his medication and we are able to use any addition money to pay for his medication and any future scans. Greg will continue his recovery at the centre and his foster home until he is fit and well enough to be adopted. We will continue to keep you up to date with Greg's progress. Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone who donated towards Greg's life-saving operation. 

For more details about our adoption centre please visit our website - www.axhayes.cats.org.uk.

Wednesday 7 June 2017

Reunited after 5 years!!! How Ringo's microchip helped him find his way home.


During June we are promoting National Microchipping Month. National Microchipping Month is a campaign that encourages and promotes reponsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent identification. 

Microchipping is the most effective way to identify a lost pet, and by keeping your details up to date, you'll increase the likelihood of a happy reunion if your cat goes wandering. You can get your cat microchipped by a vet, local authority or by a trained and insured member of an animal welfare organisation.

There is no minimum age to microchip your cat, and the procedure is simple and doesn't cause harm to your pet. Once the chip is inserted, your cat won't even be aware of its presence.
Ringo in our care



Only six days into June (aka National Microchipping Month) we meet a lovely cat called Ringo. He was found on a farm hungry and desperately looking for his next meal. After hanging around for a week, the owners of the farm contacted us for help. Our deputy manager Phil collected him and brought him into our care. During his routine health check, we found that Ringo had a microchip and had in fact been missing since August 2012! His owner had moved house during this time, thankfully she had updated her new address and telephone number so we were able to contact her. His owner was delighted we have found her cat Ringo after all of this time. She was happy for us to share his story to help promote the importance of microchipping your cat but also to update your address and telephone if you move house. We are delighted he has found his way home after all this time.

Reunited at last

To find out more details about microchipping your cat, please follow the link below http://www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/key-cat-care/microchipping

If you cat is already microchipped, when moving house please remember to change your address details on the central database when you move. In the UK, you can update your cat’s registered details by contacting your existing UK database company, or Petlog – on 0844 4633 999 or via www.petlog.org.uk – or Anibase – on 01904 487 600 or via www.anibase.com. If moving abroad, simply putting your cat through PETS or quarantine does not automatically update your records, so it is important that you remember to do this. For your own records also keep your cat’s unique microchip number safe. There may be a small fee when updating your details, but worth it to get your feline friend home.