2021 Success Story Ellah Mae calico

This beauty is Ellah Mae, a 2 1/2 year-old calico kitty. Ellah Mae is very important to her mom; check out what she has to say about her kitty:

“Her and her brother are my guardian angels. They took care of me after my oldest daughter was killed 8 months ago. I got Ellah from the Shelter when she was 11 months old. It took her over a month to want anything to do with me, until I got her brother Benjermin from the shelter. Once she realized that I wasn't going to hurt her and that she was safe, she just jumped into my lap one day and her and I bonded in a way I can't explain. She's my whole world, along with her brother.”

Recently, Ellah Mae's face swelled up, and her mom thought that she got into a fight or injured herself somehow. When she brought Ellah to the vet she was surprised to hear that Ellah Mae had a number of abscessed teeth and needed almost all of her teeth removed! She never thought a cat so young could have such bad teeth.  

Ellah Mae's mom is a single mom on a limited budget, and this expense was very unplanned. She applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help.

According to PetMD: Cat periodontal disease, or gum disease in cats, is an inflammation of some or all of a tooth’s deep supporting structures. It is one of the most common diseases in cats today.

VetStreet explains that the following signs and symptoms of gum disease in cats can be:

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Difficulty chewing (aka messy eating)
• Drooling
• Facial swelling
• Loose or missing teeth
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal discharge
• Pawing at the mouth
• Redness or bleeding along the gum line

Gum disease in cats (and pets in general) is a serious health issue. The bacteria associated with the disease can travel in the bloodstream to other parts of the body (such as the heart, kidneys and liver) and cause damage there. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, please take them to the vet for a check up. 

Fun fact: Calico cats are female because they're coloring is related to the X chromosome. Two X chromosomes are needed for a cat to have that distinctive tri-color coat. If a cat has an XX pair, she will be female. Male cats have an XY chromosome pair, so they can't be Calicos. Meow!

Fur Kids Foundation is happy to help and Ellah Mae is going to make a full recovery and adjust to the toothless life. 

Your pet's teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet's mouth healthy. Just so you know, dental disease in cats (and dogs) can be prevented the same way it can be prevented in humans: by brushing your pet’s teeth. Talk to your veterinarian about how to help your pet avoid gum disease at your next check up.

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.