Aero Among 260 Kitten ICU Patients in 2024
Aero was a three-month-old kitten living outdoors last August, along with three littermates. They were found hiding in plastic construction tubes that were riddled with hornets, behind the home of a woman who immediately offered them care. Aero’s rescuer bathed him in soap that she had recently purchased at Dakin’s Pet Health Center for her own pitbull. She tended to Aero and his siblings, but brought them to Dakin three weeks later when she was unable to manage their escalating care.
The most fragile of them, Aero was admitted into the Kitten ICU (KICU) where his health was closely monitored. Due to his harsh circumstances, he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection (URI), as well as a ruptured left cornea, which required the removal of his left eye. Before long, the spunky, orange kitten was recovered and enjoying all the snuggling and playtime he could get from volunteers and team members. His adoption profile described him as “sweet and goofy,” and noted his tendency to be found sitting in silly positions, chasing his tail, or flopping over dramatically. Antics typical of many healthy, happy kittens.
Thanks to the compassion of his rescuer, and the focused care and teamwork of the KICU, Aero recuperated and found a wonderful adopter who was thrilled to bring him home. He was one of many kittens who recovered and became part of a family.
The hardworking and dedicated KICU team wrapped up their 2024 summer/fall season with the following lifesaving efforts:
- Total kittens treated: 260
- Average length-of-stay for kittens: 11 days
- Most commonly treated illnesses: Diarrhea and Anorexia
Co-managed by Meg Delaney and Ceara Daigle, the KICU saw a significant decrease in patients with URI, but treated several more kittens than in years past who needed intensive care therapies for longer periods due to severe malnutrition, dehydration and anemia. The percent of patients who were able to be saved, despite severe health challenges, rose dramatically compared to just five years ago.
We could not be prouder or more appreciative of the hard work shown by the volunteers who kept the KICU humming from June through October. Their devotion, matched by Meg and Ceara’s, resulted in new beginnings for so many vulnerable kittens whose fate would have been – at best – very uncertain without the KICU to heal them.