Sticks and Stones Won’t Break My Bones, but they Will Clog My Intestines

Lucia arrived at Sydney Dogs & Cats Home in a terrible condition. This poorly kitty was found dumped outside the Home in June hunched over with health concerns including dehydration and hypersalivation. She was dangerously underweight and couldn’t keep down food or water. It was clear Lucia was very uncomfortable and needed urgent care to ensure she didn’t waste away.

Our vets gave Lucia a thorough health check, suspecting she may have enlarged organs or internal obstruction. While she felt normal on the surface, her lack of appetite was a clear indication some further testing was required. Lucia received further supportive care including major abdominal surgery to ensure all bases were covered. During the exploratory surgery, it became clear little Lucia had sticks and grass in her intestines and without immediate surgery, Lucia would not make it.

The vets removed the obstruction in Lucia’s intestine and she is now recovering in the comfort of her foster home. She is making great progress and is now on her weight gain journey receiving a yummy diet of Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d for digestive health. Once she has gained weight and fully recovered from her surgery, she will be available for adoption.

Cats are notorious for ingesting all types of materials, and a cat such as Lucia who likely lived a life on the streets will eat anything that is available to them. Unfortunately, situations such as Lucia’s can be the result. Fortunately, Lucia came to the Home in time for us to perform lifesaving surgery.

Lifesaving surgeries, important medical care such as medication, testing and scans and other necessities such as food, bedding and toys are all crucial in caring for each and every animal that comes to the Home. The support of our community is vital in allowing us to transform animals like Lucia into healthy, happy companions. Please help us help them by making a donation today.

Published 16 June 2021

When Jasper (previously Jammie) arrived as a 4-week old kitten, he had fleas and a ruptured right eye. Despite the fact his eye was bulging from its socket, he was a bright little boy who was affectionate and friendly, rubbing against our veterinary staff like nothing was wrong.

We had to act fast to help Jasper. Our vets started him on pain relief and flea treatment and booked him in for surgery for his eye. Suspected to be from an advanced case of cat flu, Jasper’s eye was unviable and had to be removed to relieve his discomfort and swelling.

Jasper got stitched up and spent his recovery in a comfy foster home with our Volunteer Coordinator Sue, who gave him all the time and creature comforts he needed to heal. He started experiencing mild discharge from his nose, indicating he still had cat flu so he was treated with antibiotics in foster care, which resolved swiftly.

Jasper didn’t let his ordeal slow him down. Throughout the rehabilitation process, he was playful, cuddly and even learned to walk on a harness and lead in Sue’s backyard.

Last week, after just seven weeks of rest and recovery, Jasper the one-eyed kitten found the purrfect forever home with Stacey, Mark and their senior Kelpie Angus. They recently lost their senior cat and wanted to give a home to a cat who needed a little extra love.

Within a day, Jasper was right at home. He’s made best friends with Angus and has earned himself the nickname ‘Hurricane Jasper’. He has not let his disability slow him down. In fact, with his parents working from home, he’s taken to jumping on their desks, typing emails and knocking office supplies onto the floor – all in a day’s work.

Stacey tells us she and Mark are completely in love with Jasper and he’s the perfect cat. He might be bouncing around like crazy one minute and snuggling on their lap the next.

Jasper is one of many cats who arrive at the Home with complications caused by cat flu. If you’d like to help provide the resources we need to rehabilitate pets like Jasper, please make a donation today: https://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/donate/.

Published 21 July 2021

The health and safety of our community, staff, volunteers and animals is our highest priority at all times. In light of the evolving COVID-19 stay at home orders affecting Greater Sydney, we have implemented the following temporary measures for our organisation to ensure the safety of our community, in line with directives provided by NSW Health agencies.

Sydney Dogs & Cats Home will be temporarily closed to the public for all non-essential services. Please be assured that our animals are still receiving high-quality care from our shelter staff during this time. This closure is to help minimise the amount of risk and exposure to our team and the wider community.

To ensure that we can continue to deliver our Mission, including adhering to our legal obligations to protect the welfare of animals in our care at all times, we have implemented the following measures:

• Appointments may only be made for the following contactless services:
  • • reclaim of lost but found pets
    • adoption finalisations
• Covid Safety practices will apply at all times
• Customers can make an appointment with staff by phone on 9587 9611

Reclaims
If you recognise your lost pet on our website, please phone our team. The reclaim process will then be conducted over the phone. Please do not go to our shelter until your contactless reclaim appointment is confirmed.

Adoptions
If you’re interested in adopting a specific animal, please fill out an adoption form online and wait for our team to get in touch. The adoption process will then be conducted over the phone and via FaceTime. Please do not go to our shelter. If approved for adoption, an animal care team member will arrange contactless adoption finalisation and transport option, ensuring all physical distancing measures are adhered to.

Current Advice
NSW Government – the NSW Department of Primary Industries have clarified that you can leave your home when COVID-19 movement restrictions are in place to provide care to an animal. 

Sydney Dogs & Cats Home is closely monitoring the evolving situation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to follow the directives of the lead public health agencies, including NSW Health and the Australian Department of Health.

We thank our community for their patience and cooperation during this challenging time. For more information about Covid-19, please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules

Last Updated 15/07/2021

Piper the cat was found at the base of a nine-storey apartment building in late February with injuries suggesting she fell from a balcony. When council rangers brought her to the Home, it was clear she needed immediate vet attention.

Physical examinations, blood tests, x-rays and an ultrasound revealed Piper had subcutaneous emphysema (air in her chest and under her skin), bruising along her belly, a graze on her chin and damage to her liver.

Piper required urgent overnight care with a specialist, so we sent her to Sydney Veterinary Emergency and Specialists (SVES) where she was put on IV fluids, pain relief and antibiotics. 

Repeat blood tests and monitoring overnight revealed Piper’s health concerns including her subcutaneous emphysema and liver trauma were temporary and resolved with time and medication. 

While Piper was receiving treatment at SVES, Sydney Dogs & Cats Home Animal Care Manager Dr Renae Jackson was determined to find Piper’s owners. Renae printed some lost posters and plastered them all over the apartment building where Piper was found. Within 24 hours, Piper’s owners contacted the Home to reclaim her and cover the costs of her medical treatment. 

It’s now over two months since Piper’s fall, and we’re pleased to reports she has completely recovered and is getting back to her active self. There’ll be no more balcony adventures for her in the future.

Injuries like those sustained by Piper are one of the many reasons we recommend for apartment cats to be kept inside, away from open balconies. Renae notes, “Cats and open balconies can be a very dangerous mix. Usually, cats who fall from balconies have a fractured jaw, their bladder may burst, their diaphragm may rupture or they may have broken bones. Piper was lucky not to have any of these.

We recommend for all apartment cats to be indoor cats. Cats are very agile and they can slip, be startled or try to chase a passing bird, which can have disastrous consequences on an open balcony. A fully enclosed balcony is great, but if you don’t have one you can still give your cat a great quality of life indoors by providing lots of enrichment like toys, hiding areas, scratching posts and cat trees.” 

Stewy was one of the most anxious dogs our animal attendants had ever met. He was terrified of every noise and movement. When people came to see him in his kennel he’d freeze and stare or hide in his crate. He refused to leave the driveway to go for a walk.

It’s not clear what happened in Stewy’s past to make him so anxious, but when he came into our care in October 2020, our team was determined to transform his future.

Our animal attendants worked with Stewy every day to earn his trust, keeping him company in his kennel and giving him treats when he was brave and accepted a pat or came onto the street.

Progress was slow, but over time, Stewy formed bonds with animal attendants and volunteers and started showing his affectionate side, cuddling with them and jumping in excitement when they came to say hello. He started coming into the courtyard every afternoon for playtime and went home with staff on the weekends.

Once Stewy was confident with select people, we introduced him to a friendly dog and discovered he loves canine company. We paired him with other dog residents to play, and occasionally, they would encourage him to go for a walk. 

We saw huge improvements in Stewy, but after three months in our care, it was clear he wasn’t suited to the shelter environment and needed to find a home away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

We contacted Dunroamin Animal Rescue in southern NSW who have previously rehomed some of our dogs who need a country home. They had a space ready for Stewy with one of their foster carers.

SDCH animal attendant Natalie, who had formed a close bond with Stewy, drove him five hours south, where Dunroamin picked him up for his new life. Natalie said, “there were some tears shed!”

Stewy went into a foster home with Dianna where progress was slow. There were sleepless nights, but Dianna never once gave up on Stewy. After hearing about how he responded to other canines, she borrowed a friend’s dog and we’re told that worked a treat on his confidence.

But Stewy’s new doggy friend couldn’t stay forever, so Dunroamin sent one of their dogs into foster with Stewy and he’s thrilled with his new friend.

Not long ago, Dianna adopted Stewy! Stewy may never be a dog who is confident in a busy setting, but with his new understanding and patient owner, we’re confident he’s going to have a very comfortable life! 

We had a very heartwarming and unusual adoption in March, where Narla the Staffy (previously Jane) was reunited with her family after being lost for nine months! 

In June last year, Narla was staying with a family friend and their dogs on the Central Coast while her owner Tammie and her husband were relocating to QLD. One day Narla and her canine friends got out and went missing. Her friends made it back home, but Narla couldn’t be found. 

Nine months later, Tammie’s friend was looking to adopt a dog and noticed there was a Staffy with a striking resemblance to Narla on our website, with the same scar across her face. When Tammie saw the picture, she was certain it was her long-lost dog.

Tammie was eager to bring Narla home, so she booked a flight to fly her to QLD. When Narla touched down and was reunited with Tammie and her husband, it was clear she missed her family – her whole body started to wiggle!

Narla has since made herself at home in QLD and is back into the swing of things with her Chihuahua and English Staffy siblings. Tammie said, “it was like they’d never been apart.” She really enjoys her trips to the beach to run in the water and play with her canine companions. After lots of playtime at the Home, she’s also formed a new love of toy balls!

When Milo was brought in by a council ranger at only 10-weeks-old, he was terrified. He would hide behind bowls and boxes when approached and would completely freeze when handled.

After health checks, Milo was sent straight into foster care with our Reception Team Leader Kylie to help minimise stress. Kylie quickly noticed he would come out of his shell when he heard her other cat vocalise. Milo would even talk back!

“He started purring when he saw my cat,” Kylie said. 

“We persevered with my cat who didn’t really like him, but whenever he walked into the room, Milo came forward and was a different kitten. He would eat in front of me, give slow blinks and reach his paw out to touch my cat.”

Shortly after Milo went into foster care, a kitten named Roro arrived at the Home. Roro was playful and confident – a perfect influence for Milo. So Milo and Roro were introduced and sent into a foster home with Karin, one of our experienced carers.

Karin was a perfect fit, as she already has a laidback, confident cat named Mia, who she adopted from the Home a year prior. 

For the first two weeks, Milo seemed a bit confused about the concept of toys and playtime. But with Roro and Mia there to show him the ropes, he’s come to love batting around his jingle balls. 

After over two months in foster care, Milo transformed from a scaredy-cat who was terrified of people to a young man who enjoys being picked up and held. Most of all, he loves playing with his foster sibling Roro.

Milo and Roro went up for adoption as a bonded pair and found the perfect home! They were adopted on 19 April by one of our long-term foster carers who is studying to be a vet. Milo and Roro are the family’s second and third cats from the Home, having adopted from us 11 years ago. Given their experience and knowledge of cat health and behaviour, they’re a fantastic match!

Everyone’s heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, but what about the 12 kittens of Christmas?

On 1 December 2020, a policeman arrived on our doorstep with a box of 12 tiny kittens. They had been found all alone at a local pool, underweight with an intestinal tract infection and flea infestation. Some kittens also had mild eye discharge and a sneeze. Being so small at around 4 weeks old, it was important we act fast to help the kittens, so our vet team prescribed anti-parasitic medication, eye drops and probiotics to put their tummies, eyes and skin at ease.

To ensure the kittens could be given the one-on-one attention they needed, they were sent into foster homes where they were medicated daily until their ailments were no more. Thanks to our wonderful donors, the kittens all received lots toys, blankets and beds, as well as high quality cat litter kindly provided by our sponsor Chandler Cat Litter.

Once settled, the kittens began to grow and gain weight. But for one little kitten named Noelle, her recovery wasn’t as straight forward. A few weeks after Noelle’s arrival, we received a call from her foster carer Robyn – Noelle was experiencing a hyperglycaemic attack and was lethargic and stopped eating. This is a very common condition in kittens where their blood sugar drops. Quick treatment is often the difference between life and death. Luckily, Robyn is an experienced and skilled foster carer who worked with our Foster Care Coordinator to save Noelle. Robyn administered sugar drops to the young kitten in regular intervals, and within 2.5 hours, Noelle’s sugar levels had stabilised. Robyn tells us, “it was a Christmas miracle.”

Noelle is now happy, healthy, and a little bit famous! Noelle, Oliver and Robyn appeared on Sunrise Weather with Sam Mac in December to represent the 12 kittens of Christmas, and they have since been very popular kitties.

The 12 kittens of Christmas are now available for adoption from foster care and our adoption partner PETstock. They’re looking for an indoor lifestyle and a family who can commit to giving them a home for life. Each kitten has their own unique personality:

• Mia is an independent and quiet girl who loves to play 
• Andrew is a curious boy who loves his food 
• Rusty is very playful and loves to explore
• Panda is confident, independent and likes to explore; she is great with cats, dogs and people
• Bear is a shy little guy who loves human attention and reassurance 
• Daisy is an independent girl who loves to wrestle; when she’s had enough zoomies she likes to flop onto her humans and fall asleep
• Bonnie (bonded with Clyde) is a quiet girl who loves to have a good chat; she’s very keen on her food and has her affectionate moments
• Clyde (bonded with Bonnie) is a quiet, inquisitive guy who loves to hang out with his humans
• Noelle is confident, feisty and loves playing with feather and bell boys; she’s a lap cat and gives wonderful head bumps 
• Oliver has boundless energy and loves his food; his signature move is “the meerkat nuzzle” where he stands on his back legs and nuzzles your hand 
• Azrak (adopted) is playful and loves to bat around inanimate objects such as pens; he will sit on your shoulder 
• Wobey likes to be picked up and follow his humans around; he loves to climb and play with his feather toys

To learn more about each of the 12 kittens of Christmas, see their adoption profiles: https://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/adopt/*

* If a kitten is listed as available from a PETstock store, please contact the store to enquire about adoption.

Colleen was beside herself with joy when she found out her cat Leo had turned up at Sydney Dogs & Cats Home. It had been eight months since her family had seen him, so for Colleen “it didn’t seem real.”

In April, Colleen moved to a new house, transporting Leo in his cat carrier. When she let him out to explore the new place, he jumped into the garden and disappeared. Leo would normally come when he was called, so Colleen wandered around calling for him every time she went outside. About five days later Leo reappeared, hiding under the caravan, but when Colleen tried to retrieve him, he ran away. 

Since their old house was just down the road, Colleen visited regularly for six weeks searching for Leo, but he was no where to be found.

Then, eight months down the track, we contacted Colleen’s family with some surprising news. Leo had just arrived with a council ranger, having been picked up around Colleen’s old house. Luckily he was microchipped, making it easy for us to find his family.

As soon as Colleen heard the news, she jumped onto our website to make sure it was real. “There were a few tears,” she said. 

Since Leo has returned home, he’s been readjusting to family life, including having his feline sibling back. The first day he was very timid, but by nightfall, he was already rubbing against Colleen for attention. “We’re very happy to have him home,” Colleen said. 

As in Leo’s case, a microchip with contact details kept up-to-date is essential in helping to reunite lost pets with their owner, no matter how long they’ve been apart.  In NSW it is a legal requirement for cats and dogs to be microchipped by 12 weeks of age and to be registered on the NSW Pet Registry.

And remember always update your pet’s microchip details when you change address, phone number or email, or transfer them to a new owner. Microchip details can be changed by contacting the NSW Pet Registry.