Ben Madilynn
One “sweet, senior cat” struck by a car that left him with severe injuries was subsequently caught in a legal limbo involving allegations of animal cruelty from his former owners. The 15-year-old feline survived and recovered and he is now seeking a comfortable “retirement” home through the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Boston.
On March 24, “Mittens” was struck by the vehicle and suffered fractures in his front legs and jaw — making it impossible for the cat to stand, walk or eat, the MSPCA-Angell said in a news release.
Mittens had been living at a home in Western Massachusetts, but the MSPCA-Angell said his now former owners refused to seek treatment for him “despite his obvious suffering.”
The group said that was when its MSPCA Law Enforcement division stepped in.
“We got Mittens four days after he was injured when a warrant was issued authorizing us to seize and hold him,” Mike Keiley, the MSPCA-Angell vice president of animal protection, said in a statement. He was transferred to the group’s Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.
Mittens was forfeited to the MSPCA-Angell on June 20 after his former owners did not a pay a bond, as ordered by a judge, in accordance with a state law updated in 2016. The law allows entities — like the MSPCA-Angell — holding animals to cover the cost of caring for animals seized in cruelty prosecutions, the group said.
Keiley called Mittens’ case “incredibly unique and very complicated.” He said that due to the cat’s advanced age and widespread injuries, Mittens likely would have been put down under most circumstances.
“But,” Keiley added, “Mittens was being held as live evidence in an active animal cruelty investigation, and we didn’t have full ownership of him because he was seized, not surrendered.”
Keiley said the MSPCA’s veterinary staff thought that, despite Mittens’ months-long road to recovery and the high costs associated with it, they had the ability and responsibility to heal his wounds.
Keiley estimated the price tag of Mittens’ veterinary bill to be more than $20,000. As a result, the MSPCA-Angell is asking anyone willing and able to donate to contribute on its website to help offset the high costs that went into his recovery.
“We’re fortunate at the MSPCA to have all the pieces needed to make a save like this possible,” Keiley said. “Now that Mittens has reached the end of that journey, it’s time to find him his happy ending.”
Keiley described Mittens as “incredibly tolerant and nice” to MSPCA staff, adding that his “super friendly personality” emerged as time went on.
Keiley said Mittens also set a record as the “oldest adoptable cat” that the MSPCA has ever neutered and believes he still has “plenty of good years” left in him.
The MSPCA-Angell said its staff thinks Mittens would do well in a home with other pets, such as a dog or other cats, and may be able to live with children who can be gentle. Anyone interested in adopting Mittens may submit an adoption inquiry online through the MSPCA’s devoted webpage.
His availability for adoption coincides with an MSPCA initiative called the “Felineanomenon adoptathon” in which cats like Mittens will be adoptable for free from Aug. 26 through Aug. 30.
More information about the adoption event in celebration of “brat summer” can be found on the MSPCA’s website.
