On the Eighteenth Day of Christmas,
look what came to Rikki’s,

eighteen litter challenged kitties,

Oh for it to be ONLY 18 !! Kelly, pictured above, was our first manx kitty, and the one who taught us about manx syndrome. Manx kitties started as a vertebral mutation which can result in a short tail, or with more vertebra missing or malformed, no tail, or worse, in humans, we’d call it spina bifida. As in humans, this often results in spinal cord problems, creating issues such as no anal sphincter, or one that only partially works.

The anal sphincter is what closes shut when one is not actively pooping and prevents the poop from just falling out when it reaches the end of the line. So when that is missing or not working ….. go on, use your imagination!!

These kitties also suffer from other spinal and neurological issues just like kitties who’s have spinal injuries. Some can’t pee on their own, the nerve to tell the bladder, ok, time to let go, just doesn’t work. So they need to be manually expressed. Not really hard once you learn how, pick ‘em up, hold in the right position, palpate the abdomen till you find the bladder and ONLY the bladder, and gently squeeze in the right direction, and aim into the sink or litterbox !! But you better be sure to do that at least 4 times a day and never leave such a kitty alone for long, if the bladder fills, it can rupture and cause disaster and death.

Other issues aren’t usually as bad as the ones associated with elimination, hind end weakness, unsteady gait, lack of balance. Though some are paralyzed on the hind end all together.

And we, as in humans, breed these cats, and cross breed them, trying to get cats with no tails but who can retain their normal “bathroom functions”. The few kittens born that “work properly” are sold for big bucks (though many of those can no longer function once the grow or reach adulthood or a few years down the road). The rest of the litters, the ones who poop or pee themselves or are generally murdered.

This may sound horrifying to you. But this is the case with many “pure” breed animals. Unnatural traits are breed, often with a very close relative, until you get something you would not find in nature, but that sells for it’s uniqueness to hoomans who must have it all. This is one of the huge reasons rescues are always screaming, ADOPT don’t SHOP. Every time you buy an animal, you are causing the suffering or death of another. Until there are none left to die in shelters from the over population, and from the birth defects, ADOPT don’t SHOP.

Vincent, our first spokes kitty, was bathroom challenged. On the losing end of a run in with a vehicle, he lost a leg, part of another, half his tail, and had spinal injuries. A wonderful woman, Helen, did a lot of rescue and was at the vet clinic the day Vincent was brought in. She immediately took him in, paid for his surgery and care, only to find he was incontinent, both his bladder and his bowels. And that made him unadoptable. But he was just the most adorable, happy cat on the planet. So she searched for a wonderful home who could cope with Vincent’s issues. And that ended up being Rikki’s Refuge. Like many of the animals, with extensive medical care, a lot of alternative therapies, hours and days and months and then daily physical therapy forever, his issues were lessoned.

When managed well, these animals have wonderful love filled lives. You just have to be willing to learn the care they need, be willing to put in the time and effort and money. And do the clean up when needed !!!

Mouky came to us in 2015, also the victim of a run in with a vehicle. Paralyzed from the hips down, wetting and pooping himself, unable to move, with horrible bedsores up and down his hips and legs. First was the keeping him immaculately clean, the care of the wounds, which thankfully alternative therapies made it able for him to avoid skin grafting surgery.

Then the physical therapy began. He is one of the most headstrong little guys you ever met and he was never willing to give up, he’d endure hours of physical therapy to stand for 15 seconds.

Soon he could support his weight, then move one leg, then the other.

I don’t think there was a dry eye at Rikki’s Refuge the day he first ran. And again the day he climbed a tree !!!

Leo joined us this summer. His history is unknown, but his hind legs don’t work well. Sometimes he makes it to a puppy pad. But other times he pees and poops on his legs, then takes off scooting it all over the place !! YUCK. Lots of clean up!! Before discovering puppy pads, Leo would struggle to pull himself into even the lowest litterbox. He’d never make it in further than his hips, and the legs would stick out straight to catch the pee and poop …. But he’s trying. We’ve only just begun on his therapy and care, and just a couple days ago he actually stood and took one step !!!

Timmy has been with almost all his life, since he was about 8 weeks old. Seen falling out of a moving vehicle, he was scooped up and rushed to a vet. No broken bones, but lots of road rash and nerve damage. He usually scoots, but as long as he gets two sessions of physical therapy daily, he can stand and walk with a very awkward gait. But he prefers to scoot all over at a very high rate of speed !! And he’s never missed the litterbox, despite the difficulty of climbing in. Unlike other “differently abled” ones, Timmy refuses to use a puppy pad.

And the count goes on!! Dozens and dozens litter challenged precious kitties. As well as house trained challenged doggies. Many dumped cus no one would give them the love and take the time to help them have a happy life.

Aren’t YOU glad Rikki’s Refuge is here for cats and dogs like these?

Won’t you please donate just $1 today to help care for one of these animals for one day? Or consider a recurring $30 a month donation to care for one challenged kitty or doggy for all of 2024!!

Just click right here https://RikkisRefuge.org/donate
or by mailing a check
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960
or the site of your choice
Paypal https://paypal.me/RikkisRefuge
Paypal mail@RikkisRefuge.org
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Venmo Rikki’s Refuge
Zelle mail@RikkisRefuge.org

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!!!

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