Rescue Stories: Willis - A Sick Kitten Found on the Side of the Road

We’re excited to share another rescue story that’s very special to us. Willis and his family, who we met through our Facebook pages, have been our good friends since 2011. Mommy went to MI over the summer and met Willis and his sisters (oh, and his mom, too), and had the best time ever. Willis is definitely a sweet boy. Without further ado, meet our friend, Willis!

Lola

A friend of mine was driving home on a dark road one night in June of 2008, when her headlights caught something sitting in the road. She got out of her car to see what it was and found a little black kitten just begging for help.

She scooped him up and took him to the vet as quickly as possible, where she found out he was very sick. I had been looking for another fur child to join the family, so when she called me to tell me about the kitten, I just had to go see him. It was love at first sight as I held him in my arms.

Willis meeting his mom for the first time.

Willis was the sickest kitten I had ever seen. He had an eye infection, ear infection, upper respiratory infection, snot all over his face, his hair was falling out, and he had worms. But his spirit seemed strong. I had an overwhelming feeling that I just had to try and help him, so I brought him home and set him up in a sick room. I was warned by the vet that his prognosis was poor, and it was suggested that I not get too attached to him.  It was already too late for that, so I started praying for a miracle.

Willis was bald on his back end and he could hardly breathe. 

Poor Willis was so sick! 

He had to take a few antibiotics as well ear and eye medication, and was so good taking all of it. Gradually he recovered, but the upper respiratory infection was recurrent. After the 4th round of antibiotics I took him for a nasal flush and had the fluid sent Michigan State University for testing so we could get the exact antibiotic to help him.  The antibiotic he needed only came in pill form, and I was worried about having to pill him twice a day. But, just like all the other times, he took it like a champ.  I felt he knew I was trying to help him, and he too, wanted to feel better.

Willis on the road to recovery.

Slowly and slowly Willis got better. It took 9 full months of antibiotics, 3 rounds of eye medication, 2 rounds of ear medication and 3 rounds of dewormer.  His coat finally started to grow back and today Willis feels like soft velvet. Occasionally he will still have a flare up with an upper respiratory infection, and he still takes his medicine like a champ.

Willis today with his velvety soft fur.

Willis is now 11 years old and is the sweetest boy. He’s so loving and so cuddly! As a kitten, he was a nut case! He still plays like a kitten and never slows down, and still runs around the house at 5:00 am and Midnight like clockwork, using me as a springboard. 

Willis hogging the couch.

But he makes up for it with his couch cuddling every night when I get home from work.

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Willis means the world to me. He’s the sweetest boy and he loves his siblings, even though they don’t always feel the same way. When I’m watching tv at night he’s right there, glued to my side and hogging the couch. I’m so glad my friend was able to spot him on that dark road and not only save him but bring him into my life.

Sherri

Bay City, MI

I’ve been working hard to get submissions so this column can get up and running again. If you have a story about a rescued pet and you would like to share it with us, just click on the email icon in the sidebar to send us a message.