Gables Dogs and Cats Home in Plympton have taken in a dishevelled 13 year old cat, as his owners were expecting a new baby and were concerned that the cat would make the baby ill and get the baby dirty!
When Tattered Tom, as he has affectionately been named, arrived at Gables it soon became obvious that he was suffering from more than just his rundown, untidy looks.
His fur was matted, greasy and heavily discoloured – the result of not being able to groom himself. This has also left him with a rather distinctive odour. He was born with a cleft lip, which makes eating and breathing normally much more difficult for him.
The poor old boy will require immediate treatment for dental disease, blood tests to see if he has any underlying conditions and basic care such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatment. He also has a heart murmur, which will require treatment once fit enough.
Tattered Tom has done nothing wrong, he is just one of the thousands of unlucky pets that find themselves needing a new home each year, due to a change in their owner’s circumstances. Sadly this trend is likely to increase when people start to go back to work once the pandemic is under control and we come out of lockdown.
Ruth Rickard, deputy manager at Gables said:
“As soon as I saw a picture of Tattered Tom’s face, I saw another golden oldie that desperately needs our help! We certainly appear to be seeing an increase in the amount of older dogs and cats needing help, which is such a shame. Tattered Tom has turned out to be a very sweet and affectionate old boy who wants nothing more than to just curl up on someone’s lap”.
It is estimated it will cost Gables around £4,000 to treat all of Tattered Tom’s medical issues, and provide ongoing medical support to ensure that he will be happy and comfortable for the rest of his life.
Gables Dogs and Cats Home does not receive any government funding and has felt the financial strain from the Coronavirus pandemic, but they are determined to help Tattered Tom. To help ease Gables financial burden please make a contribution to ‘Tattered Tom’s Vet Appeal’, please call 01752 331602 or visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ttom2021 to donate online.
