Leo's Fighting Spirit

On a chilly night last March, Leo, an unneutered two-year-old white cat with brown markings and large paws came home with a swollen eye and covered in puncture wounds after an outdoor fight. He had been spending more and more time outside, as he was stressed by the three dogs who shared his home, and had been on the losing end of more than one fight lately.  

He was brought to Dakin when his wounds were becoming more challenging for his family to contend with, and upon arrival, there was concern that those injuries wouldn’t enable him to recover. He suffered a significant bite wound to his right eye and the top of his head, which left scarring and a deformity to his eyelids.

Because his family didn’t know what type of animal had bitten him, Leo was placed in a state-mandated quarantine at Dakin. He would receive care for four months, and by the time he recovered, no diseases were present.

Cats being held at Dakin for a quarantine receive medical observation and treatment for their punctures (and other injuries, if present), as well as visits with staff members to prevent boredom and depression from settling in. Leo enchanted the staff with his sweet demeanor, as well as his gentle meows for attention and petting, when they visited him or handled him for medical treatment. He received antibiotics and underwent a surgically drained blood collection. Great care was given to prevent the recurrence of the abscesses that he bore when he came to Dakin.

A few weeks after his arrival, his spirits dipped. Staff members reported that he wasn’t greeting them enthusiastically, and would actually look away from them. For a cat who had spent a lot of time outdoors, it seemed that his confinement was beginning to wear on him. Fortunately, this was a short-lived situation and before long he rallied, becoming more friendly and responsive to the staff members who were working as a team to cheer him up and oversee his recovery. Leo’s adorable personality was returning.

As his recovery progressed, and there were no signs of disease, the team began to prepare their criteria for his future adopter. Despite his healing, Leo still had deformed eyelids which did not close properly and would produce excess tears. While this did not create any concern at the time, his eyes would always need extra attention to hopefully prevent future problems. Whoever wanted to adopt Leo would be advised to bring him to a veterinarian for visits and follow-up regarding eye care.

Finally, the quarantine period ended in late July, and Leo was available to go to a new home. His profile on Dakin’s website described him as a “sweet boy who loves to play” and “will slide across the floor chasing his toys like he’s a kitten.” He can be odd, it noted, “but he will definitely keep you entertained!”

Leo was adopted by a family in Hampden County, and has settled into his new life. Back in his prowling days, Leo lost more fights than he won. Fortunately, he won the biggest fight of all, regaining his health and moving toward a rewarding future.