Severely Injured 'Miracle Cat' Survives Months Outside Before Help Arrives

MASSACHUSETTS -- Just before Christmas, a Lawrence resident called the city’s animal control officer to report that a skinny and badly-injured black cat had taken refuge near her front door.

That same day, which was Dec. 21, 2015, Lawrence animal control officer Ellen Bistany hurried this cat to MSPCA-Nevins Farm in Methuen with the hopes that he could be saved.

Naming him Frank, veterinarians guessed that he was roughly four years old, and immediately determined that he had suffered traumatic injury to his face, head and hips-most likely from a run-in with a fast-moving car. His right eye was so damaged it had to be surgically removed, along with a broken upper canine tooth, said the announcement. Frank had also suffered a broken jaw.

It was startling to doctors that Frank had clearly been injured months ago, but somehow the little cat managed to stay alive outside, badly hurt and with no reliable food source. Veterinarians also said that Frank would have suffered near-constant hunger pangs, judging from his body weight, which was a 3.5 out of 9 on body weight score.

Several weeks of recuperation in a foster home have done wonders for Frank, according to Director Mike Keiley.

“Frank’s friendly and sweet-natured personality has started to shine now that he’s gained a bit of weight and is no longer suffering from his eye injury, and we can now place him for adoption,” she said in a statement.

Despite his turn for the better, Frank is still on the road to recovery. He will require two separate hip surgeries to ensure he will be mobile and comfortable for the rest of his life. For now, the team is hoping a wonderful adopter will step forward to give Frank the life he deserves, in a safe and warm home.

Contribute directly to his care here.