The Shocking Past of a Loving Rescue Cat, and the Fight his Adoptive Owners Put Up to Save Him!

When one couple adopted their rescue cat, Chester, they never imagined the horrible past their new feline friend had gone through before he met them. Chester was a sweet cat, who immediately took to his new owners upon arrival, showering them with love and affection from day one.

So, when the couple discovered Chester’s past, they were happy to give him the support and attention he needed to survive, despite all the stress and worry it came with.

Read the incredible story that changed their lives below:

Here is Chester with his new Papa the night he was adopted:

Chester was beautiful, but his owners started to worry. He couldn’t lay in other positions, he never played, he never ate and seemed to be sick very often. The vets they took him to were baffled.

Several months later, the couple took Chester to a new vet and found out Chester had been hit by a car at some point in the past! He was diagnosed with chronic diaphragmatic hernia and needed a costly and very risky surgery to live. The couple then packed up and drove with Chester to Washington State University!

The surgery went smoothly, but Chester wasn’t doing well post-op. His blood pressure dropped and he was in the ICU for six heart-wrenching days. Chester had to be monitored 24 hours a day, while the couple dutifully slept in their car and in a park nearby while they waited. They visited their lovebug twice every day!

The WSU vets fell in love with Chester! They even made him a custom eye mask out of gauze so he could get some quality shut-eye during his slippery recovery.

The WSU surgeon analyzed Chester and informed the couple that Chester must have been hit by the car well before the couple adopted him, meaning he was living with this painful condition for months! It took enormous strength for Chester to manage to stay alive as long as he did.

Chester eventually made it home, with a much slimmer frame and heat packets to speed up his recovery.

Chester slowly regained his strength, but because of his low blood pressure, blood wasn’t able to get to his foot, and the limb started to slowly die.

The vets were able to save most of Chester’s foot, but the toes had to come off. The surgery required was expensive, and would put a large financial strain on the couple. They desperately wanted to help Chester, so they decided to start a fundraiser online. A few weeks later, the couple’s fundraiser had gathered enough money for Chester to receive the surgery!

The operation was a success. Chester made a full recovery albeit with a few less toes than what he started with 🙂

Chester’s foot bandage had to be changed three times a week, so he got a little fidgety and irritated at times!

Of course, Chester preferred cleaning his foot himself!

Because of the car crash, Chester’s organs were smashed around, making it extremely difficult for him to lay on his back before his first surgery. Now, Chester sit however he pleases!

Chester’s foot healed very well, and he gained weight quickly since his stomach was finally allowed to expand properly!

The surgery even allowed Chester to finally be able to play with the other kitties!

One year later, Chester is a healthy and happy cat who is incredibly LOVED by his humans 🙂 He is eternally grateful to the amazing staff at WSU for their life-saving operation!

Isn’t that the most uplifting rescued cat story you’ve read in a while? Share Chester’s heartwarming journey with your cat-loving friends today!

via Imgur