An accident, a fight for survival, and a reminder of why reporting matters.
Alfie is now a much-loved, happy and healthy 10-year-old cat. But things could have been very different.
In February 2017, when Alfie was just eight months old, he was outside his front door having a little sniff around. One minute he was there, the next he had disappeared.
His owner immediately went out looking for him, calling his name and shaking his treat bag. Worried sick, they eventually caught sight of his tail underneath a parked car further up the street.
The relief was short-lived.
When Alfie emerged, blood was pouring from his face and running down onto his chest. He darted back into the house, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
Like many injured cats, Alfie was trying to find somewhere safe to hide.
Thankfully, his owner managed to get him into a carrier and straight to the vets.
He was placed on a drip and transferred to another veterinary practice because his usual vet wasn’t open 24 hours. A friend drove them there, with Alfie in his carrier and his drip attached.
He was taken away for emergency surgery, but there was still a risk he wouldn’t survive.
Alfie had suffered a fractured jaw and a broken canine tooth. He was also in shock, which can be life-threatening.
Thankfully, he pulled through.
The blood loss alone could have killed him if his owner hadn’t found him and got him treatment when they did.
Today, Alfie still has a slightly wonky jaw and some missing teeth, but he’s alive, happy and very much loved.
And that is what matters.
Why Alfie’s story matters
The message behind Alfie’s experience is simple.
Reporting a road traffic collision involving a cat, even when that cat runs away and appears to be fine, could save their life.
Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain and injury. A cat that runs off after an accident may be seriously hurt and in desperate need of veterinary attention.
Had Alfie’s owner not found him, his injuries could have gone unnoticed.
And even when a cat sadly doesn’t survive, reporting the incident can spare a family the uncertainty of never knowing what happened to their beloved pet.
Alfie was one of the lucky ones. But luck shouldn’t be what determines whether an injured cat receives help.
For Alfie. For Monty. For all of our babies.
💙🐾
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