A Rescue Story

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Lucky is ready for a loving family you can apply for adoption here - https://www.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/RMTX-A-2530

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Please consider donating as we are still trying to cover medical expenses - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19bRwiwAEk/

I wanted to share a story about Lucky, our Christmas miracle!

We have two cats, one of whom is an outdoor cat during the day. We monitor his activity with cameras installed around our home. On Christmas Day, while checking the cameras, we noticed a little someone trying to poop right next to our neighbor’s house—ironically, right next to a sign that said, No Pooping on My Lawn! 😆

At first, I thought it was just another cat, but something seemed off. He was walking strangely and was far too visible. Normally, outdoor cats are cautious and nearly invisible, always on high alert. But this cat was the opposite—completely exposed. Then, I noticed he was limping.

Realizing he might be injured, I immediately asked my wife to grab some treats and try to lure him closer. I asked her instead of going myself because, at 6’3”, I tend to scare stray cats away. She approached him gently, but he got scared and ran. We decided to leave some treats near where he had been and stepped back. A little while later, we saw on the camera that he came back and ate the food.

We repeated this trick, moving the food a little closer to our house each time. Slowly, he started associating our home with food. That’s when my wife noticed he was also bleeding.

That night, we set up a small box with a blanket and placed food next to it, hoping he would find shelter. At the same time, we reached out to our friends at RescueMe Lantana, Texas, for help. They guided us to a clinic that would accept a stray cat and provided us with high-quality Tomahawk traps (because cheap traps can fail—something we learned the hard way with another stray).

Sure enough, Lucky came back that night. He stayed on our porch and slept almost the whole night. Our cameras confirmed his injuries—he was limping, and his jaw appeared to be degloved.

The Rescue Mission

The next day, we set up the traps around our home and waited. Around 6 p.m., our cameras picked him up again. We prepped ourselves with a large blanket to cover him immediately after trapping—this prevents the cat from panicking and hurting himself.

The moment Lucky spotted food inside the trap, he went straight for it. He was starving. The trap worked! We quickly covered the cage. He hissed at me once but then stopped struggling. We weren’t sure if he was feral, a stray, or someone’s lost pet, but we had him safe for the night.

Emergency Care

The following morning, we took him to the ER, where we encountered an unexpected challenge—just because it’s an emergency clinic doesn’t mean they have a surgeon available. We had to move to another ER because Lucky’s jaw required immediate surgery.

They confirmed our fears: his chin was completely degloved. Eating must have been excruciating for him. Fortunately, the second ER had a surgeon available, and they were able to operate immediately.

The surgery was complicated because there was very little tissue left for stitches, but somehow, they made it work.

A few hours later, we picked him up and brought him home, where we had a cozy playpen ready for his recovery.

Recovery from Jaw Surgery

Lucky’s first few days of recovery were dramatic. He was so skinny I called him “Dragon” because you could feel every little bone, like dragon scales with spikes. His jaw bled for a few days—not excessively, but enough to be concerning.

Despite the pain, he never stopped eating. I truly believe that’s what saved him. As Steve Jobs said, Stay hungry!—and Lucky did. Thanks to RescueMe, we had Pro Plan CN cans to help him get much-needed calories. Miraculously, his jaw healed incredibly fast. Within two days, he had stopped bleeding and was visibly happier.

Saving His Leg

Next, we had to address his injured leg. We desperately wanted to save his back paw. However, finding another emergency appointment was challenging—most vets were fully booked during the holiday season.

We eventually found a surgeon willing to take him in. They tried everything for several days, but, unfortunately, his paw couldn’t be saved. The amputation was necessary.

Lucky had to stay at the vet for four days. During this time, Dallas was hit by an unusual snowstorm, making the roads undrivable. Thankfully, the clinic took amazing care of him—and they absolutely fell in love with him!

Second Surgery Recovery

This recovery was much smoother than the first. Lucky seemed to be in less pain, was in a better mood, and even became playful. The only thing he truly hated was his E-collar! 😆 (Check out his pictures—it’s both sad and adorable).

Over the following weeks, we got him fully vaccinated, microchipped, and ready for his new, happy life!

Meet Lucky!

It's me ^^^:)

Hey, I’m Lucky!

I’m about 8 months old, and I think I got hit by a car—or maybe a big animal tried to hunt me. I must have run, jumped, and landed hard on my jaw. But I’m all good now! I lost my back paw, but that doesn’t stop me from running and jumping.

My favorite things:

Food! Especially yummy wet food with beef. I eat a lot!
Playing! I love ball games.
Hiding my food and poop (stray cat instincts, you know!).
Music! The first time I heard music, I thought it was a giant bird flying around. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find it.
Cuddles! I love sleeping next to humans, especially when they gently pet my chin and head.
Making eye contact. I have a special ability—I can steal your heart by looking straight into your eyes! (Check my pictures—you’ll know which one I mean 😉).
My foster brother. He’s twice my size, but I’m not afraid of him. We play tag all the time!
Running away when my foster parents try to catch me for fun. 😆