We’re looking for help to ease Cheese’s recovery! His healing will take a while, but this 1-year-old cat has a great start thanks to Tri-County Humane Society’s medical team.

Cheese originally came to TCHS in October. He was adopted and then returned in early January 2025 due to behavioral and medical concerns, including sores that had developed on his back. Cheese was not acting like himself; he was in pain and taking it out on the humans around him.

TCHS’ medical team sedated him for a thorough exam. His long hair made it difficult to see how bad his sores were, so his back had to be shaved. What team members discovered was eye-opening – he had multiple several-inch long sores across his back! The team cleaned the area and performed a debridement (removal of infected/dead tissue) with antiseptic.

Our medical team suspects the wounds may be burns. This is the time of year that many people use heated blankets, space heaters, heating pads, etc., and sometimes pets, with their furry coats, don’t realize how hot something is. It’s also possible Cheese had a reaction to a cleaner or some other substance.

What we do know for sure: Cheese is feeling much better! The day after his wounds were treated, he was a new cat, rubbing up against the kennel doors, purring, and looking for attention. He is receiving antibiotic therapy, wearing an Elizabethan collar to prevent him from causing further damage, and Team TCHS is monitoring him.

We estimate Cheese will spend at least a month at the shelter before he’s fully healed, and we would love your support in Cheese’s recovery! We hope to raise $800 to help cover the costs of his care. The minimum cost of care for shelter animals is about $20 a day, which would add up to $600 for his likely monthlong stay. His veterinary care is estimated to be an additional $200 on top of that.

We’re proud and grateful that TCHS has professionals on staff who help make a difference for animals like Cheese, and we’re thankful to our community for making it possible for us to go the extra mile!

For the animals,

Marit Ortega
Executive Director
give@tricountyhumanesociety.org
320-252-0896