Homeless Kitten Suffering from Heart Condition to Breathe Easier Thanks to the MSPCA
Monday, October 26, 2009

Lily to Undergo Life-Saving Surgery to Give Her Weak Heart a Chance to Fight

UPDATE: November 3
Lily's surgery was a success! She is currently sporting a stylish splint which hasn't stopped her from wanting to play and cuddle and then play some more. She will be in foster care for three more weeks and then radiographs will be taken to ensure the surgery successfully corrected her sternum. Lily thanks everyone for their well wishes! 

Lily will undergo surgery to correct a defect of her sternum to relieve stress from her weak heart.

Lily, a three-month-old orange kitten, will undergo surgery at the MSPCA to correct pectus excavatum, a congenital defect of her sternum that limits her ability to breathe and places stress on her already weak heart. The homeless kitten was surrendered to the animal welfare non-profit after being found in a garage in Whitman this past July.

“We have been caring for Lily for nearly her entire life,” said MSPCA-Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center manager Meagan Rock. “She struggles to overcome her disability every day however this surgery will make a huge difference in her ability to breathe properly and remove stress from her heart, which is also weak from another congenital disease.”

Lily is the last remaining kitten from her litter that was surrendered to the MSPCA-Boston along with her mother. All of her family members have been adopted into new homes and the MSPCA hopes to find Lily a home as soon as she recovers from her operation.

“Lily’s sternum is concave, curving inwards and impeding her lungs from fully expanding,” added Rock. “The goal of surgery is to reposition her sternum using an external splint so that it no longer puts inward pressure on her lungs and heart. Coupled with her weakened heart, this operation is Lily’s best chance at living through this year and for many years to come.”

Lily inspects an X-ray of her chest taken at Angell Animal Medical Center.

Lily’s surgery will be possible thanks to donations made to Spike’s Fund. Spike's Fund helps the MSPCA-Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center provide emergency medical treatment for homeless animals in need. Many animals come to the MSPCA-Boston in desperate need of medical care, whether they have been hit by a car or have been the subject of animal abuse. Spike’s Funds helps the MSPCA-Boston cover the costs of life-saving surgeries and additional medical treatments to help the non-profit care for animals in need. To donate to Spike’s Fund to help Lily and animals like here please click here.