It’s not always kittens and cuddles at Wild Blue; often our rescued cats come to us in poor condition and sometimes they need immediate life-saving care in order to survive. The cost of surgical procedures aside, a night in a veterinary ER/ICU is approximately $1000 per patient, and daily vet hospitalization can cost more than $300 per day, depending on how critical the cat's condition. A $200 donation will provide blood plasma transfusions for kittens with underdeveloped immune systems - giving them lifesaving antibodies to fight off viruses. And a $100 donation will pay for several months of specialized medications.

Wild Blue is dedicated to Saving the Precious Lives of the cats entrusted to it, no matter the cost of treatment or a cat’s age, health or life expectancy. This means, unlike many humane societies and shelters, we allocate time and resources even on the lives of cats with terminal illnesses. Your donations and support allow us to give these precious lives a chance at an enriched, full life, however long (or short) it may be.

This mentality is why an eight-week old kitten named Lamar (pictured in the scroll with his sister Lota) is still alive, rather than being euthanized for his terminal illness. Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) causes abnormal blood flow to the heart’s major arteries, a condition which claimed the life of his sister Lae. While her death gave Lamar an early diagnosis and a chance to survive, Lamar didn’t respond to the medication necessary for him to safely undergo extensive surgery. His life expectancy is anywhere from a week to six years, but for as long as he’s in our care, Wild Blue will continue to pay for his medications ($100 every few months) and the even more expensive quarterly ultrasounds ($400 per appointment).

Cases like this stretch the resources and stamina of the Sanctuary and its fosters to dire limits in busy times like ‘kitten season’, but somehow, with our donors and volunteers, we still find ways to care for the needy. Three week old kittens Tommy and Gina (also shown in the scrolling pics) were left at the Sanctuary in a grimy cardboard box; hungry, cold, and covered with black, crusty goop. With no fosters available, a Wild Blue volunteer became their emergency bottle-feeding mother under Wild Blue’s guidance and financial aid. Yes, they are named after the Bon Jovi song, and yes, they’re making it, we swear.

The rest of Tommy and Gina’s generation has been less fortunate. A deadly virus called feline panleukopenia (FPV) - similar to the puppy-killing parvo - has ravaged the kitten population across the Colorado Springs area. With a mortality rate of 90%, treating panleuk must be done quickly and aggressively, and it’s very expensive. Despite more than 20 surrendered kittens being diagnosed with FPV, with swift medical attention amazingly only 9 succumbed to this ‘cat plague’. While the losses were heavy, we cannot forget to celebrate the lives of kittens like Kenya, Kaplan, Kuala, Medura, LaBrea, Tsar, Tuva, Tsavo and Hapi (shown in the scrolling pics) -- lives that Wild Blue and its supporters directly saved.

Our adult cats have also had their fair share of trouble - mostly involving motor vehicle accidents. Three cats in particular came to us with severe life-threatening injuries that had drastic consequences: Whistler needed one of his legs amputated, Yarrow had one of her eyes surgically removed, and Sofia needed months of medical care and therapy to save and rehabilitate her back legs -- you can see her astounding recovery in the short YouTube clip on this page.

Thanks to the love and intensive care that these cats received from our incredible veterinary partners, Whistler, Yarrow and Sofia were not only saved but are thriving in the forever homes that Wild Blue has found for them. Whistler’s adoptive Mom said in an update that “Whistler is doing very well now. He is so adorable and affectionate. He is the perfect kitty for us and we will do everything I can to spoil him."

The good news is that YOU can HELP us give Lamar a comfortable life and save other precious feline lives by donating any amount you can so we reach our $20,000 funding goal; money dedicated to covering emergency veterinary care costs and the subsequent recovery and rehabilitation of our rescued special needs kittens and cats.