Stray kitten ready for love

When a five-month-old kitten came into the Fraser Coast Adoption Centre she was covered in so many fleas and so much dirt staff were hard pressed to determine her colouring.

“When we bathed her so many fleas and so much dirt came of her that the water turned black,” Fraser Coast Regional Council Animal Facilities and Education Co-ordinator Tiffany Palmer said.

“Luckily the vet was here when she came in so we could have her checked quickly and get her on the road to recovery.

“She was in the worst condition I’d ever seen. She had massive sores, her leg was infected, and she’d chewed fur off her leg and tail as she tried to get relief from the biting fleas.

“Her tongue was severely ulcered and had a dropped bottom lip which indicated she’d had some kind of head injury.”

Even though she was in a bad way, the kitten who received the nick name ‘Gremlin’, only wanted to smooch with Tiffany when she was taken out of the carrier at the adoption centre.

“She couldn’t stay at the adoption centre, so I took her home to foster her.”

After a week of syringe-feeding her four to five times a day, Gremlin now known as Gem, ate a piece of chicken – that marked the beginning of her recovery.

“I worked for the RSPCA for three-and-a-half years and fostered more than 60 cats and kittens,” Tiffany said.

“It is very rewarding.”

Tiffany also has more than eight years-experience working in a zoo moving through the ranks from keeper to acting assistant curator. 

“I also worked with multiple fostering agencies in Townsville and Rockhampton.

“We’re always looking for new rescue groups to come on board and assist the animals at the Animal Management Centre,” Tiffany said.

Little Gem is now ready for the next step.

“She’s strong enough to go to the adoption centre and find her forever home. She is such a gorgeous little thing,” Tiffany said.

At the initial health assessment, Gem was so sick the vet was unable to gauge her age, but they now think she is about five months old.

“Like all animals that we find new homes for, Gem will have had all her vaccinations, will be wormed, microchipped and desexed,” Tiffany said.

In the past five months 90 animals have gone to rescue from the Animal Management Centre.  This has included kittens, pregnant cats, older dogs and long-term animals.

Any rescue groups who would be interested in meeting or working with Tiffany, the new Animal Facilities and Education Coordinator at the Animal Management Centre can contact the Fraser Coast Adoption Centre on 1300 79 49 29.

Adopt a cat or kitten and share your happy snaps for a chance to win!

• Fraser Coast Adoption Centre is giving you a chance to win a SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. 
• Adopt one of our beautiful cats or kittens during March and April and share your happy snap with us (images may be used for promotional purposes on our official Facebook site). 

The contest aims to raise awareness of the work that the Fraser Coast Adoption Centre does and the benefits of companion animal ownership.

CAPTION: Snuggles … Fraser Coast Regional Council Animal Facilities and Education Co-ordinator Tiffany Palmer nurses Gem who has made a full recovery.