Rex

TW: Sexual Assault & Abuse

At only 10 weeks old, tiny kitten Rex had already endured such unimaginable cruelty that it was difficult for us to even wrap our minds around it. While we may never know the full extent of his suffering, the physical signs of his abuse are painfully clear. Rex was discovered in the driveway of a rural home, where a horrified resident saw him be callously tossed from a car. This poor boy's bloodied and battered body was inside a bag, his shallow breaths the only indication that he was even still alive. 

Thankfully, the resident was the brother of one of our dedicated fosters, so we were immediately contacted. Rex's injuries were beyond gut-wrenching. His tail was broken completely away from his spine, the result of either a malicious act of abuse or the sexual assault he undoubtedly endured, as indicated by his swollen and inflamed rectum. Rex was experiencing such severe pain when urinating and defecating that it seemed we would have no choice but to amputate his tail. Also covered in fleas and mud, Rex was shockingly emaciated when rescued. 

Our veterinarian provided essential care, including flea removal and fluids, but Rex was not yet strong enough for surgery. Despite the horrors he had endured, Rex clung to the will to live. He would crawl over to his kennel, pleading for love and attention from anyone who passed by. We were determined to give Rex the care and support he needed to heal and thrive, but we knew this little cat's journey would be long and challenging emotionally and physically for him, and financially for us.  Still, we knew Rex deserved a second chance, and we were not about to give up on him just yet.

From the moment Rex entered our care, he faced unimaginable challenges. One of the most pressing issues was a severe infestation of intestinal worms, one of the worst we had ever seen. Even after treatment had begun, Rex was still fighting for his life. By mid-October, Rex continued to receive fluids daily and was on pain medication to abate his suffering. To make matters even more complicated, at barely 2 pounds, Rex was still too small to undergo amputation surgery. With the goal of gaining at least two more pounds before his operation, Rex still had quite a way to go.

Unfortunately, Rex's appetite was minimal, likely due to the torment of the worms that once plagued his tiny body and just simply being exhausted. We started him on an appetite stimulator, hoping for a positive change. By early November, Rex's appetite had finally improved. With 10 ounces gained, this sweet boy was trending in the right direction. Unfortunately, during this time, we weren't able to give Rex a bath as the weight of a wet tail would have been more weight than he could bear.

By the following week, Rex was no longer experiencing painful bowel movements, and we were thrilled to learn that this sweet boy was finally healthy and strong enough to undergo surgery! He needed to wait two more weeks for the intestinal worms to fully clear from his system, but this little boy was on his way. Not only were the CUDDLY donations invaluably helpful during Rex's recovery, but he greatly enjoyed playing around in the boxes the items were delivered in.

After enduring unimaginable pain from a broken tail, Rex underwent a successful amputation and neuter surgery.  This long-awaited surgery could not have come soon enough as Rex was initially too weak and underweight to undergo sedation. Since his operation, we could soon see an overall improvement in Rex's well-being! Despite some lingering challenges, such as soft stool, Rex was growing stronger day after day. During Rex's post-op check-up in the middle of December, we were thrilled to hear that Rex was making remarkable progress.

Since Rex’s arrival, we have been waiting for the day we would be able to unite this little boy with a loving family. On December 18th, Rex found his forever home. After the horrific trauma and abuse he endured, Rex was finally adopted. Rex's new family had seen his story on CUDDLY, and avidly followed his recovery journey, making life-saving contributions whenever they could in the hopes that one day they would be able to take this little cat home. Rex's adopters live in the UK but were visiting Chicago for the winter holidays. They made a special trip to pick up Rex and this little boy got to spend his first holiday season being loved and adored in his new home.