From cruelty to kindness… the journey of Hope

Stranded, disorientated and hurting…

Hope the cat’s first few months in this world have been trying, to say the least.

However, like her name suggests, Hope is making a turnaround.

At the beginning of March, the tiny and skinny kitten was found helpless at Okhahlamba Local Municipality.

The woman who spotted the female cat noticed that she could not walk and had a thick coating of tar on her paws.

A quick call to Reza Coetzee from the Central Drakensberg Animal Rescue brought hope to a distressing situation. Reza and her colleague, Jess Hatting, are the driving force behind the animal rescue organisation that operates in Winterton, Bergville and surrounding rural areas.

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When Reza received the cat, it was a case she had not seen before, despite working with animals for more than a decade.

“I saw that she was in a lot of pain and discomfort, as she could not even move her claws. The claws were stuck outside and she could not retract them, as the tar was stopping her from doing so. That night, we tried our best to gently remove the tar, but it caused too much pain for Hope,” explained Reza.

So it was off to the vet the next day, where the little cat was placed under anaesthetic so that the majority of the tar could be removed.

“They managed to free her toes and took off as much as they could. She had to get stitches to her feet. That night, I could see that her feet really hurt and she was very uncomfortable,” explained Reza.

While the exact reason for Hope’s paws being covered in tar is unknown, there are suspicions that this may be a new ‘trend’ when abandoning cats.

The following days were challenging for both Hope and Reza, and each small step of progress brought renewed optimism.

“The days were long for Hope, and every day brought a new challenge for this poor girl. The cat litter got stuck on the tar and caused a lot of discomfort, so I got vet tape and made her fancy pink socks that would keep the sand off her paws. She won over many people’s hearts with her gentle soul, despite all the pain she was in,” Reza says.

Hope’s confidence has started to blossom and her interaction with Reza is heartwarming.

The next step is to find a special home for Hope.

“Hope is about five or six months old. She is the exact definition of a ‘lap cat’. She will purr non-stop and loves human interaction.  She loves children and also has no problems with other cats and dogs. She will talk to you when she wants attention and is a very soft natured cat,” says Reza when describing this little girl that has crept into her heart.

Hope has already been sterilized thanks to a generous donation from the organisers of the Polar Bear Swim, so an adoption fee would not apply.

However, an adoption contract and home check is compulsory.

If you can give Hope a home to call her own, please call Reza on 076 204 9779.

Central Drakensberg Animal Rescue extends its gratitude to Belinda Espag from the Polar Bear Swim, as well as Marlize and the doctors at the Winterton Vet.    

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