Fortunate Ferals

Little Bridgett is melting the hearts of everyone she meets while she’s in Suzanne’s care. ❤️

This sweet girl has been through more than any kitten ever should, but every day we’re seeing a little more of the kitten she was always meant to be.

She’s finally starting to groom herself again, which is a huge milestone.

Her poor little paws are still healing from the stress and trauma she endured, but she’s making progress every day.

One thing we’ve learned about Bridgett is that she has a serious love for soft blankets. If given the choice, she’d happily spend her day wrapped up like a little burrito, safe, warm, and surrounded by comfort.

She’s also doing all the things we’ve been hoping to see…eating on her own, drinking on her own, using the litter box, and slowly coming out of her shell.

One of her favorite pastimes is watching fish videos on the iPhone while snuggled up with whoever is spending time with her.

It’s one of those little things that makes us smile.

What Bridgett doesn’t know is that she was found by exactly the right person.

Suzanne stepped in when she needed someone most, and because of that, this little girl now has the chance to heal, feel safe, and learn what love looks like.

It will still be some time before Bridgett is ready for the next chapter of her life, but for now we’re letting her take things at her own pace and soak up all the love, comfort, and security she should have had from the very beginning.

Keep growing strong, sweet girl. We’re all rooting for you. 💗

On Saturday, I brought Bob in for his stitch removal and recheck.

While his progress hasn’t been exactly what I would hope for in a perfect-world scenario, we’re continuing to focus on the recovery plan that makes the most sense for him.

The biggest challenge right now is that Bob simply won’t leave the wound alone. Every time I apply topical treatment, he manages to scratch and reopen the area. I’ve been using Silver Honey, which is a fantastic product, but Bob seems to think it’s more of a snack than a medication.

Once he starts bothering the area, it’s nearly impossible to stop him because of the location of the injury.

I know that when people see photos like these, one of the first suggestions is usually a cone.

The challenge is that the location of Bob’s injury doesn’t necessarily make a traditional cone the best solution. A fabric cone was also suggested, but after looking at the placement of the wound and considering the friction it would create, it just doesn’t seem like the most realistic option for him either.

One thing years of rescue work, working inside a veterinary clinic, and caring for thousands of community cats has taught me is that while protocols absolutely matter, every cat is still an individual.

Sometimes you have to think outside the box.

Sometimes you have to adjust.

Sometimes the cat tells you what is and isn’t working, and your job is to pay attention.

That’s where we are with Bob.

We’re going to continue monitoring him closely, adjusting when necessary, and making decisions based on what gives him the best chance at healing.

That said, I need you all to look beyond what you see at first glance.

Bob is doing much better than he appears.

I’ve included before-and-after photos because I want you to see the progress we’ve seen.

The wound itself may look frustrating, but Bob has made tremendous strides since the day he arrived.

His attitude, comfort level, and overall condition have improved significantly.

The first photo shows the severity of the injury.

The photos that follow show the cat.

They show a cat who is eating, comfortable, alert, curious, and continuing to fight his way back.

Now that his stitches are out, we’re shifting our focus toward topical treatment and continued wound management.

It’s not always pretty, and sometimes it feels like we’re taking one step forward and two steps back, but recovery isn’t always a straight line.

Over the last few days alone, we’ve spent more than $500 on veterinary care for Bob and Bridgett, the little kitten found on the highway.

And the truth is, neither one of them waited until we had the money to need help.

I’ll be honest with you all… the last few weeks have put a strain on our budget.

Now, in the spirit of full transparency, I also want to acknowledge something incredible.

An anonymous donor recently stepped forward and contributed $3,000 toward our upcoming Lehigh mobile unit.

We are unbelievably grateful for that support.

Donations like that remind us that people believe in this mission just as much as we do.

That gift helped move an important project forward, but it doesn’t cover everything we do.

We still have Bob’s recovery.

We still have Bridgett’s recovery.

We still have cats that need to be trapped, spayed, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and returned.

We still have food to purchase.

We still have medical supplies to stock.

We still have emergencies that never seem to arrive at a convenient time.

And just yesterday, our amazing trapper, Christine, brought four cats into the Cape Coral Animal Shelter & Veterinary Clinic TNVR event.

For those unfamiliar with what we consider a complete TNVR package, that includes the spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccine, FVRCP vaccine, ear-tip, and a microchip.

Those four cats alone represented more than $200 in additional expenses.

The next few posts are going to be asks.

Trust me, I hate asking.

Even as a nonprofit, it feels uncomfortable sometimes because we know there are so many people and organizations out there struggling to help animals with far fewer resources and supporters than we have.

But I’ve also learned something over the years:
People genuinely want to help when they understand where the need is.

So over the next several days, I’m going to share some very simple ways you can support Fortunate Ferals.

Whether that’s donating cat food, helping with veterinary costs, sponsoring vouchers, purchasing an item for one of our rehab cats, or simply leaving a comment of encouragement, every bit matters.

This work is not for the weak.
It’s not for people looking for easy victories.
It’s not for people who want to hide what they’re doing.

The work we do is messy.
It’s emotional.
It’s expensive.
And it’s often exhausting.

But I also know we’re making a difference.

We’re building resources that didn’t exist before.
We’re helping cats that otherwise would have nowhere to go.
We’re creating opportunities for people who want to help but don’t always know how.

And although it may not seem like it yet, I can feel the momentum building.

We just have to keep pushing forward.
And speaking of momentum, I have one piece of exciting news to end on.

Our rehab shed will be arriving this Wednesday.

This isn’t just another structure.
It’s an investment in Fortunate Ferals’ future.

It creates more space for injured and recovering cats and allows us to continue expanding our efforts in Lehigh Acres, where one of the most common messages we receive is:

“This cat is injured.”

“This cat is sick.”

“This cat needs help.”

We want to be able to say yes to more of those cats.

But we also have to be realistic and responsible.
I’m not interested in taking in a bunch of cats just so I can say we did.

I want to give them quality care.
I want to give them the time they need to heal.
I want to give them the best possible chance at a good outcome.

That requires space.
That requires resources.
That requires support.

So if you’ve ever wanted to help Fortunate Ferals, keep an eye on the next few posts.

We’re going to make it easy.

Because with just a little more support, we can help a whole lot more cats.

And Bob & Bridgett are proof that they’re worth it.