Choked cat free of collar

After surgery, he can eat, drink, meow and breathe easy.

By CARRIE RITCHIE
Published June 28, 2007

Caesar rests Wednesday. He has gained a pound since an embedded collar was surgically removed, and will be up for adoption soon at the Humane Society.
	[Lance Aram Rothstein | Times]

SHADY HILLS - An emaciated little cat covered in matted white fur hunched in his cage Wednesday afternoon, his gold eyes alert.

His rescuers call him Caesar, after the emperor, because he triumphed over his struggles. And though he's weak, he has a certain regal air about him.

His legs buckle when he tries to stand, but his gaze is intense. His bones protrude sharply, but he's now eating "like a horse, " his rescuers said.

But where an emperor's gold should lie, Caesar has a necklace of black stitches.

Just days ago, Caesar was nearing his end. Colleen King, a Pasco County Humane Society volunteer, found him Saturday on her porch, his collar embedded into his neck.

The collar was simultaneously choking and starving him to death.

"I just knew he was too sick, " King said. "I was going to take him to the vet and have him put to sleep, but Sherrie Alcorn, Humane Society manager said to give him a 50-50 chance."

Humane Society president Suellen Szesyski rushed him to Advanced Veterinary Hospital in Holiday. The clinic stayed open late so it could surgically remove the collar.

Caesar weighed about 4 1/2 pounds, which is half the normal weight for an adult male cat. No one thought he would make it.

But he survived the night and has since gained a full pound. And now that his throat is free, he's been wolfing down both dry and wet cat food.

The Humane Society believes the cat had worn the collar as a kitten and was separated from his family. Because no one was around to check his collar or remove it, his skin grew around the collar as he grew to his adult size. The Humane Society estimated that he's between 3 and 5 years old, so he was probably suffering for years.

The collar restricted his ability to breathe, eat, drink and make noise. His meow still sounds like a hoarse whisper.

"That's an awful way to die, and he was very close to death, " said Ed Alcorn, director of the Humane Society. "It had to hurt to breathe."

Ed Alcorn said he has never seen a cat with an embedded collar, but he has seen dogs with them.

Caesar's stitches will come out in eight days, and within two weeks, he should be ready to find a home.

Despite his struggles, he's sweet-natured and would make a great pet, Sherrie Alcorn said.

He seems to love people. He moved toward one side of his cage as she made purring noises and reached her fingers in to touch him. And when Szesyski drove him to the hospital, he rested a paw on her arm.

"We hope we can find someone who really loves cats, " Szesyski said, "because he deserves a good home after all this."

Fast Facts:

How to help

The Pasco County Humane Society has about 20 adoptable dogs and 30 adoptable cats and kittens. The organization is always looking for good homes, volunteers and donations. For information, call (727) 856-6762.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 21:30:13]