Patrick’s Will to Recover Matched by Centerville Adoption Center’s Commitment to his Care
BOSTON, March 27, 2017 – A tiny kitten named “Patrick” used at least one of his nine lives in a Fall River home filled to the brim with dozens of other cats before he and 77 others were surrendered to the town’s animal control facility and the MSPCA-Angell in early February.
Patrick, along with his feline best buddy “Pudding” and 25 other cats from the home, were sent to the MSPCA-Cape Cod in Centerville. The rest of the cats were split between the MSPCA’s Boston location and the Fall River animal control facility, from which they were adopted.
A Novel Surgery for a Mysterious Illness
In the weeks since his rescue Patrick has been passed over for adoption not just because he is so bonded to Pudding that staffers insist they go home together, but also because he is suffering from an extremely rare condition that makes it difficult for him to breathe.
According to Dr. Kirstin Johnson of the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center, Patrick’s condition is known as Nasopharyngeal Stenosis—a narrowing of the back of the nasal passages that resists the passage of air and normal nasal secretions. “If the condition is left untreated it will lead to recurrent respiratory infections as well as labored and noisy breathing, and we want to spare him that,” said Dr. Johnson.
MSPCA-Cape Cod Director Mary Sarah Fairweather echoed the desire to do everything possible to help Patrick recover. “It’s unbelievably sad to us that this sweet kitten has been dealt such a difficult hand,” said Fairweather of Patrick’s health condition and his previous home life. “But we’re going to do everything we can to see him through this so that he and Pudding can live happily and healthily in a new home together.”
Fairweather has booked a procedure for Patrick at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston which involves inserting a balloon catheter inside his nasal passage to stretch the tissue and enable proper breathing.
Because the condition is so rare, so too are the balloons used to open the passages, which have to be specially ordered just for Patrick. Patrick will likely undergo the procedure in two to three weeks—and, according to Dr. Johnson, may require a repeat of the procedure once he is an adult to permanently resolve the problem.
Adopters Wanted
Fairweather and her team are wasting no time in finding the perfect home for this tough cookie and his friend. “Assuming all goes well with his procedure—and we very much believe it will—we will start contacting interested adopters immediately.” Interested adopters can email capeadoptions@mspca.org with inquiries about Patrick and Pudding.
For location, direction and hours of the MSPCA’s Cape Cod adoption center click here.
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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions from individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mspcaangell
