Cat's life in balance after ice-lock rescue

Trooper the cat is facing serious medical challenges, with life-threatening issues in the balance over the next few days, says the Atlantic Veterinary College. The cat was found on the weekend of Feb. 11 in the Newfoundland community of Stephenville Crossing, unable to move and sitting in ice on a driveway. The cat did not belong to the people that lived at the location where the animal was found. The cat was rescued by a Newfoundland division of the Society for the Care and Protection of Animals, whose staff used warm water to melt the ice holding the injured cat. The animal's story has garnered international attention through social media. Funds donated from around the world have been used to fly the cat, now named Trooper, to the veterinary college in Charlottetown. He arrived on P.E.I. on Sunday. Vet college staff completed examinations and assessments of Trooper Tuesday, confirming serious frostbite on one of his back legs, multiple pelvic fractures and nerve damage affecting his bladder. He now faces the possibility of a leg amputation or even end-of-life options by the end of this week. "The neurologic deficit currently is of primary concern because he is not able to pee on his own at all," said Doctor Tracy Matthews, director of the teaching hospital at AVC on Tuesday. The cat is in the intensive care unit on pain medication, antibiotics and medication to try and stimulate a return of bladder function. Staff and student check him every two hours and help squeeze urine out of his bladder. Matthews says Trooper is eating well, appears comfortable and is a great, cooperative patient. "The frostbite on the back leg is pretty extensive so it appears that amputation of that leg is a possibility and may be a likely outcome," said Matthews. The nerve damage might heal but only time will tell. "Our hope is that by Friday he will be showing some neurological improvement with his bladder so that we can go forward on Friday with surgery to repair the fractures in the hip area, to stabilize the good leg and possibly to amputate the leg that was affected most by the frostbite," said Matthews. On the other hand, there are tough choices if bladder function does not return. "Unfortunately we still don't know right now what his ultimate outcome will be with the neurologic dysfunction," said Matthews. "It's challenging for a cat. "It would be challenging for the SPCA to find an owner who would have the ability to manage his long-term care, which would be helping him urinate every four hours. The other side of the equation is his own personal comfort and quality of life." It could be a tough decision on what will be next for Trooper at the end of this week, said Matthews. Trooper has his own Facebook page where messages are pouring in from around the world. "We even had a donation come in to us from the North Pole," said Gwen Samms, shelter manager of the Bay St. George SPCA who took Trooper to P.E.I. She is staying in Charlottetown courtesy of Comfort Inns. "I am hoping to stay until after the surgery but I guess that will all depend on how long they figure he has to stay in the hospital here," said Samms.