CAS’ APPEAL FOR RUPERT, THE SENIOR CAT
Rupert is an older cat who was found abandoned in a garden in Croydon in April 2021, severely malnourished and weighing only 3kg. We don’t know more about Rupert’s history or how long he had been a stray for, but this poor old boy was in very bad health when we found him and brought him into the rescue centre.
Rupert has diabetes, which requires twice daily insulin injections, and was also recently diagnosed with irritable bowel disease, which has caused swollen intestinal lymph nodes. This gives him his pot belly and has caused a Vitamin B deficiency, for which he is now under treatment.
Rupert’s weight has increased to nearly 5kg now and he is completely obsessed with food. However, because of his health conditions, he needs to be on a specially managed diet of Royal Canin gastrointestinal food.
Rupert has been in foster care for the last couple of months now and he is happy with his life indoors, where he is very well cared for and loved by his foster parents. Since being in foster care Rupert has been in and out of the vet and tested for many different things including pancreatitis, EPI and acromegaly, as we felt there were more issues going on for him than just the diabetes. We now have the dual diagnosis of diabetes and irritable bowel disease and his condition is being managed and has stabilised. He will, however, need to be on medication and a special diet for the rest of his life.
Since the beginning of October Rupert’s vet costs, while trying to get to the bottom of his health issues, came to £750. This has been covered for him by a very kind private donor. Croydon Animal Samaritans will support Rupert’s condition and treatment for the rest of his life, but it will be costly, with estimated treatment coming in at approximately £2900 per year. The costs are broken down as follows:
Royal Canin gastro food - £63/month, £756/year
B12 infused probiotic powder - £24/month, £288/year
Insulin and needles - £100/month, £1200/year
Monthly prick tests - £15/month, £180/year
Vet consults (1-2 monthly) - £25/month, £300/year
Kitty valium (zylkene) - £15/month, £180/year
We are hoping our supporters will help sponsor Rupert’s treatment for the coming year and have set up his own fundraiser, where you will be kept updated of his progress.
We are also really hoping that there will be some kind person out there who will want to adopt a slightly eccentric, very affectionate (he's never happier than when on a lap), food obsessed, older gentleman with some chronic, but manageable, health conditions. We think this loveable old rogue deserves a chance of a retirement home, where he will be king of the castle with no other pets, with some very special person, who is able to manage his health conditions and quirks.
Please help support Rupert’s ongoing treatment. Any donations you can spare will be very much appreciated.
