Eyes on the Prize - but not for these kitties!

We were going to do a one off page for the gorgeous wee Butternut, who was found in a Pumpkin patch (he's the delicious ginger cutie). He's had an terribly rough start to life contracting toxoplasmosis so severe it damaged his heart, then he developed leprosy he needed further operations for and now to top it off he's been diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes - the pressure of which means he needs them both removed. He's overcome a lot in his short life and we continue to ensure he gets the very best of care.

But in an unusual turn of events, we actually have more kitties having to have eyes removed this year than we would ever have expected and so we need to ask you for help for all of them. So along with Butternut, please meet more of our fur babies we need your help to look after.

Semme - approx. 5 weeks old, found in a truck yard. She had severe cat flu damaging her eyes. Her right eye has a Bullae formation and will need to be removed. Her left eye has a symblepharom which is a partial or complete adhesion of the conjunctiva to the eyeball. Surgery may be successful. If not the eye will also be removed.

Skye - approx. 6 weeks old, found abandoned with mum and siblings in Manurewa, Skye has deformed eyelids. Until we can get the swelling down we are unsure if there's any damaged to her eyeballs, if there is they will need to be removed.

Finn - (Skye's brother) approx. 6 weeks old, due to severe flu his eye has ruptured and has to be removed once he is big enough.

Sophie - had toxoplasmosis. The pressure in that eye meant it would eventually turn cancerous so we made the decision to remove it. She's also had to have all bar 2 teeth removed - and feline dentists are just as expensive as hooman ones!

All these kitties deserve to have love, care and most importantly money spent on their well-being so they can enjoy life, pain free. They did not ask to be abandoned or born wild and have survived incredible odds to get this far and as a rescue we strive to give all our cats and kittens this opportunity.

Butternuts' costs alone will be $2,000. Eye removal surgery costs $500-$800 per operation. We need your help to make sure we can continue with not just treatment for these five, but all our cats and kittens in care and those that are waiting for our help. Our wait list is in excess of 700 cats and kittens and without your support more will suffer as badly as, or worse than, Butternut, Semme, Skye, Finn and Sophie.

Thanks in Advance for your support - Kia Kaha - The Team at Lonely Miaow