By Natalie Gallenti
Teetering on the brink of death, the stray cat was malnourished and severely injured when he was found in Burnside last September.
Now, only four months later, the feline with a face only a mother could love is living the life of luxury at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
Cattery supervisor Lyn Orton said when Mr Pants was first brought in, staff members were almost certain he would not pull through. Suffering a burst abscess on the side of his face, a gaping wound in his neck, multiple bite marks, skin cancer and riddled with lice and worms, his chances of survival were slim.
However, with the hospital’s no kill policy, the staff put all their effort into healing him and after weeks of perseverance and lots of love and care Mr Pants was on the mend.
“All the staff fell in love with him and we decided he should be the mascot for the cattery,” Ms Orton said.
“He was only just over two kilograms when he came and now he is nearly six kilograms.
“He really interacts with the staff now and is really content. It’s his joint now.”
Nathan Miles from the Western Suburbs Animal Rescue and Re-home organisation found the poor pussycat just after he had been attacked and said he was in a shocking state.
“I’ve seen some bad ones,” Mr Miles said.
“But he’s up there. I didn’t think he would make it.”
He said the Lort Smith had done a fantastic job and he was a completely different cat to the one that landed at their doorsteps only months ago.
“It’s a real happy ending for everyone.”
Mr Miles said stray or dumped pets were not always as fortunate as Mr Pants, particularly around the Christmas period.
He said a box of kittens had been dumped on Christmas Day and a family recently gave up its heavily pregnant dog.
“Animals are still seen as disposable. But they are for life.”
He called on pet owners to act responsibly and de-sex their cats and dogs and said there were even subsidies that were offered by animal rescue organisations that were offered to owners to encourage de-sexing.
