She Lived Among More Than 200 Cats. Now Algeria Needs Us

Her eyes are inflamed, she is struggling to breathe, and her mouth is so painful that eating is difficult.

This is what animal hoarding looks like when the door of a carrier opens.

For three months, Algeria lived in a house with more than two hundred cats. When she reached the veterinary hospital, her eyes were severely inflamed and the surrounding skin was raw from scratching. She had been trying so desperately to relieve the pain and itching that she had injured herself.

She was constantly sneezing. Discharge was coming from her eyes and nose. Breathing and swallowing were difficult. Her vital signs were borderline and her heartbeat was faint.

Then the veterinarians examined her mouth. Algeria has severe periodontal disease and gingivostomatitis. Eating hurts. Drinking hurts. Even swallowing can hurt.

Despite everything, she allowed the veterinary team to examine her without resisting. She remained extraordinarily gentle and calm. I do not know how much of that calm was trust and how much was exhaustion. Probably both.

The following morning, her eyes were covered in discharge and she barely touched her food. She was still weak and had not gained any weight, so we returned to the veterinarian.

Blood tests and a fluorescein eye examination followed. The results confirmed that Algeria is FIV-positive and has feline herpesvirus. FIV is not a death sentence, but it weakens her immune system and makes careful treatment essential.

Algeria now needs medication throughout the day, repeated examinations, eye treatment, nutritional support and pain control. Once she is stable enough, she will also need extensive dental treatment.

Our veterinary funds are already stretched by several complex rescue cases, but leaving her untreated is not an option.

If you can donate 10, 20, or any amount you can afford, please do it now. Your donation will help pay for Algeria’s diagnostic tests, medication, veterinary examinations and dental treatment.

If you can become a monthly supporter, even with a small contribution, it allows us to begin treating animals like Algeria before an emergency appeal has raised anything.

For three months, Algeria was one cat among more than two hundred.

Here, she has a name. Here, we see her. Please help us save her.