Catsnip Limassol Feral Cat & Stray Neutering Charity

by R Fryer
(Cyprus Europe)

Rescued from Episkopi Garrison Cyprus

Starr was reported to us at 7pm on a Sunday as a walk in to the kitchen of a family living on the Garrison. Smelling and in distress the family asked us what to do and a friend of Catsnip who also lives on the garrison arrived and put Starr into a cat box.

The next morning she was taken to our vet, Starr was given a poor prognosis and not expected to live for very long as the wound around her neck caused by a cat collar that had grown into her skin was severely infected and full of maggots.

Our vet decided to give Starr a chance and set about cleaning away the puss and maggots and removing the collar. An hour later the collar was off, the neck cleaned and the full amount of damage to the neck now fully visible. Unfortunately a large portion of the fur and skin around the neck had been eaten away by the infection and had disappeared.


Huge Mountain to Climb

To all of our amazement Starr recovered from the trauma of having the collar removed and wound cleaned and sat up purring and waiting for a friendly stroke and of course some dinner.

Both antibiotic injections and spraying antiseptic on to the neck sore do nothing to deter Starr from seeking human company and she oozes affection to the clinic veterinary staff and visitors from Catsnip.

Not out of the woods Starr needed a further operation to replace the lost skin and after 3 weeks rehabilitation and recovery in the clinic Starr underwent a second major operation involving a skin graft with skin removed from the rear of the neck and placed over the wound. Lasting over three hours Dr Yiannos Christou assisted by Dr Marios Torno performed the operation using 187 stitches.


Starr is awake and just as affectionate as before the operation. It is still earlier days
and we will have to see how the skin graft takes and how much fur grows back.



How Did It Happen

Starr previously called Cheeky was adopted by a family on the Garrison some 18 months ago, as a young cat she was micro-chipped, vaccinated, spayed and given a collar. Basically an outdoor cat she came and went as she felt. The family were initially in old housing stock and during their tour they were moved to newer accommodation. Unfortunately Starr did not take to the move and kept returning to the old house.

When the family left the island Starr was left behind and a friend asked to feed her, unfortunately Starr was once again on her own.

How do we know this, well thanks to the micro-chip, Pet-log with whom Starr’s micro-chip was registered were able to supply Catsnip with the owners Cyprus details. Some investigative work by a Catsnip member found the owners details on a social networking site and they were able to discuss Starr (formerly Cheeky).

How to Help

Although our primary objective is spaying and neutering cats Catsnip were unable to turn their backs on this wonderfully affectionate and friendly cat. The veterinary cost for the treatment so far is €1,574

If you would like to help Catsnip in meeting these costs then please visit their website at www.catsnip.co.uk and click the donate button.

Or if you would like to give Starr a home here in Cyprus then please use the contact us page at www.catsnip.co.uk