The UK’s ‘saddest’ cat is ready to find a forever home after beating the odds to survive
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An animal sanctuary in Bristol has shared the heartbreaking story of one of the animals in its care - Phoenix the cat who was brought to the centre after years of neglect and life-threatening injuries.
Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, in Barrow Gurney, has been caring for animals for 30 years by providing medical plans and nursing them back to full health in a bid to find them a new home. Phoenix, who is between nine and 12 years old, has been described as ‘the saddest’ story Holly Hedge has ever come across.
The black cat was previously neglected as a kitten; not fed properly and rarely allowed into the house to see its owners and forced to fend for itself. Across nine years, Phoenix accumulated several injuries which were left untreated and developed matted fur which would soak him to the bone throughout the colder months and eventually became an abscess. He would also sustain an injury to his right eye which, due to being left untreated, he lost sight in.
Over injuries included several ear infections causing painful cauliflower ears for the feline and most of his teeth breaking away leaving roots exposed which meant anytime Phoenix would come across scraps of food it would be agony to eat. All of these injuries were accrued while his original owners were still living at the same property, likely seeing Phoenix battling to survive around the neighbourhood.
Thankfully, the cat was whisked away to Vale Vets and cared for over five nights. Vets removed 16 teeth, washed out his ears, shaved off his matted fur, wormed and de-fleed and neutered Phoenix. His right eye was also cleaned with soothing drops put in. He was then passed over to the team at Holly Hedge and given his own heated room with an outside area to stretch his legs. His treatment is ongoing but the centre believes he will be available for rehoming soon.
Holly Hedge is currently running a fundraiser to continue providing quality care to the animals brought to the sanctuary. In a Facebook post detailing Phoenix’s story, the centre thanked Kim Notton for saving Phoenix’s life by bringing him to Vale Vets.
The message read: “She alerted Holly Hedge of his plight [by] sending a heart-breaking photo which brought tears to our eyes and of course we said we would take him and he could go straight to Vale Vets when caught. She went to the area he came from, and a kind lady said she would have a cat trap in her garden and would watch it to make sure no other cat went in.
“Kim then set it up and the following day Phoenix, as he is now called, went in and his story to a new life began. It must be said that Kim has saved many cats from the brink of death, taking some in herself, and finding rescue spaces for others. She is always there working tirelessly to help animals in distress and is a true Animal Samaritan, so a huge thank you from Phoenix and all the others Kim has saved, many of whom ended up at Holly Hedge.”
To donate to Holly Hedge click here and for more information on when Phoenix will be ready for adoption or any other enquiries, email [email protected]