A one-year-old tabby cat is recovering from a leg amputation at a BC SPCA foster home after being found as a stray in the Lower Mainland.
Nemo was found at the corner of Cariboo Road and Gaglardi Way in Burnaby by a Good Samaritan, according to a BC SPCA release Thursday (Feb. 29).
He needed 48 hours of emergency care for his long list of injuries, said Nicole McBain, the manager of BC SPCA’s Burnaby community animal centre. The cat was given pain medication, antibiotics, fluids and a series of X-rays.
Nemo had a collapsed lung, a fractured tooth that needs to be removed and a right leg that had nerve damage. A veterinarian determined that the nerve damage to the leg was so severe, it wouldn’t be able to be saved.
“He is unable to use the leg and has no pain response at all. This kind of nerve damage is quite common in cats who have experienced serious trauma.”
McBain said that based on his injuries, it’s suspected Nemo was hit by a car.
Since being taken in, McBain said Nemo has been “super sweet and affectionate.”
However, staff have learned he hates to eat alone.
“Because he was a stray and has had to find his own food, we thought he would just scarf down anything we put in front of him, but he won’t eat unless someone sits with him. Once he has company, the food disappears quickly.”
Nemo is now recovering from his leg amputation and neuter surgery and will be available for adoption.
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