Stray Cat Recovers From Bullet Wounds And Finds A Loving New Home

Even after being shot with a pellet gun, gentle Poppy remains incredibly trusting of people.

Just like Mary Poppins, Poppy the cat is practically perfect in every way. This fluffy gray tabby is friendly and easygoing with everyone, pets and people alike.

She purrs soothingly, uses her scratching post like a champ, and even lets her caregivers trim her nails and give her baths without a fuss. Everyone who meets Poppy falls in love with her, and she loves them right back.

Poppy arrived at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City from a Utah shelter—not by flying umbrella, but in need of a fresh start and some tender loving care to recover from her past hardships.

Best Friends is working toward a no-kill goal by 2025, a vision that involves animal welfare organizations collaborating to save as many pets as possible.

Shocking discovery

Poppy needed a lot more than a spoonful of sugar to get better. The veterinary team at Best Friends noticed she limped on her left front leg. An X-ray showed a sad truth: her leg had been broken by a pellet gun shot.

“It already healed, but it healed in the incorrect position,” explains Dr. Megan McCarthy, a Best Friends veterinarian.

The team also discovered something hard under the skin on her back—a second pellet. We don’t know who shot Poppy or when it happened, but it must have been very painful and scary for her. Despite this, Poppy’s cheerful spirit wasn’t dampened.

“Despite everything she’s been through, she’s just the sweetest cat,” says Dr. Megan.

Because her leg didn’t heal right, Poppy will always have a limp, but thankfully, it doesn’t hurt her. To prevent any future issues, the medical team decided to remove the pellet from her back. The surgery went well, and Poppy is now recovering in a foster home.

Poppy’s tale concludes on a paw-sitive note

Just like everyone else, Poppy’s foster volunteer fell head over heels for this wonderful cat. Poppy spent her days lounging on the couch, enjoying chin scratches, and giving slow blinks to show her gratitude.

After she recovered from her surgery, Poppy was adopted quicker than you can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Her new family absolutely loves her. Poppy even has several kids to care for now. The children give her lots of attention, and she relishes every moment of it.

H/T Best Friends Org