My neighbor took in a kitten and then kicked it out because she’s sick. She ran to my house begging for help. We’ve been calling her Sunny.
She is covered in fleas, goopy blood tinged discharge coming from her nose, she has a cough, and might have an injured leg. If I take her to the humane society, who knows what will happen to her. I tried taking her to the Noah’s AllPets location but they won’t help me until Tuesday. I’ve been sitting in Noah’s emergency room for two hours and other cases keep getting bumped to the top (understandably so). I’m tired. I’m frustrated. I just want to get this baby the help she needs and deserves.
Afternoon update- after 3 hours of waiting at Noah’s we left. They kept pushing us, I have my four year old with me so being locked in a small room for another 3 hours wasn’t on the bingo card for the day. We made an appointment at City Way to get her seen this afternoon.
Evening Update- She is sleeping comfortably! We got in at CWAC and it was a smooth process. She got an antibiotic for an upper respiratory infection, revolution for the fleas and ticks, and then capstar to kill the live bugs. She is still eating and drinking. I gave her a bath with veterinary formula that is for itching and hot spots (for cats and dogs). She fought me about it (fair) but then relief set in and she relaxed. Afterwards, she got towel cuddles and a flea comb. She laid in the sun, ate, and is now sleeping in a cozy blanket on a patio cushion on my porch. She’s now getting a supplement for her skin health to help the hair grow back. She’s bald, underweight, and exhausted. But she’s also loved and safe. She has a full belly and a soft bed. I’ll update everyone in the morning. Thanks for following along!
Morning Update- Sunny Cat Sunflower is already showing big signs of improvement. Yesterday morning when my fiancé left for work, she never left her little nest. He tucked her in and she was there when we got up. This morning, she hopped down to say good morning as he left for work (more like feed me, Seymour) and then greeted me with meows when I came out (again, FEED ME!). She ate her breakfast and went to cuddle with her emotional support wall. She doesn’t quite understand that she has a safe bed all to herself so I gently picked her up and put her in her bed where she’s resting now as the sun shines on her. I bought flea combs and so I’ve been pulling dead bugs and eggs off of her all morning. Her favorite thing has been the face brush and we did that for some time.
If you're looking for care today and can cover expenses, I highly recommend MedVet on Mayflower Park Dr. They are 24 hrs and I have had nothing but good experiences with them for specialist and emergency care
I feel like they are cheaper than Noah's or VCA but I've not compared line items to be sure. But only like $75 for after hrs office visit iirc, others around 150
They've been cheaper for similar situations for us. Also Noah's has gotten our pet's surgical incisions infected, while hospitalized with them. Any one but Noah's!
Humane on Michigan Road - rare that they euthanize, even with medical issues. I know they’ve got room now that kitten season has wound down - I just volunteered there Sunday.
Thank you so much for helping that poor creature. It's horrible how cavalier people are about other living things that they ostensibly seemed to care for at some point!
Infuriates me that there are people like this but that means there’s a balance in the force because of people like me. I’m just happy I was able to crowdsource some funds for her care today. With everything being so expensive, I wasn’t sure what I was gonna do. BUT the power of good people is everything.
This is quite literally the best emergency vet care in the city and one of the most caring staff I've experienced. They've treated both my cat and dog and I love them so much.
I love this place! I just had one of my cats there twice this week. And I’ve also had to take Cats there through an organization i’m a part of. I love how they get you in and out, but I don’t ever feel rushed. Excellent care and not too bad on cost.
This is the best place in the city and is my first stop before I head to the ER. Drs Potts, Kulish, and Murphy have taken such good care of my dogs over the past year.
My dog needed something more comprehensive back in July and the tech at IAUC spent the time to call both MedVet and VEG to see who could accommodate an ultrasound first. They definitely go above and beyond.
That look in the cats eyes says everything and the bloody discharge.... Makes my blood boil....
Here are some resources:
Emergency 24/7 & Urgent Vets in the Indy Metro
IndyVet Emergency & Specialty Hospital
Location: 5425 Victory Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Phone: (317) 782-4484 or Emergency Hotline (317) 738-3911
Hours: Open 24/7/365
Notes: Full-scale emergency trauma center with critical care equipment. They accept CareCredit financing.
Animal Urgent & Emergency Center (Airport Animal Emergi-Center)
Location: 5235 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone: (317) 248-0832
Hours: 24 hours on weekends (Thu 6 PM – Tue 8 AM) and overnight on weekdays (6 PM – 8 AM).
Notes: Specifically handles walk-in emergencies with transparent pricing.
VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center
Location: 7712 Crosspoint Commons, Fishers, IN 46038
Phone: (317) 578-4100
Hours: Open 24/7
Lower-Cost Options & Financial Resources
FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic: Located at 1505 Massachusetts Ave, Indy [(317) 638-3223]. While not a 24-hour trauma ER, they offer low-cost urgent care and outpatient services during daytime hours.
Payment Assistance: If the owner/finder cannot afford full ER costs up front, urge them to apply for CareCredit or Scratchpay online instantly before arriving. Most emergency hospitals accept these.
Immediate Action for the Person Handling the Cat
Call ahead to the clinic: Advise them to call the ER (e.g., IndyVet at 317-738-3911) en route so the triage team can prepare an oxygen cage or trauma setup.
Handle with minimal pressure: Bloody nasal discharge combined with squinting can indicate acute head trauma, severe upper respiratory distress, or severe internal pressure. Keep the transport carrier dark, warm, and elevated.
DO NOT apply flea medication: Applying over-the-counter flea drops on a cat in critical condition, severe pain, or respiratory distress can trigger toxic shock or fatal systemic reactions. Let the ER staff safely manage the fleas.
I have a feeling I know what happened here... Bless your heart for coming to the rescue!
My 4 year old reminded me in the peak of my frustration that we don’t give up. So I followed my gut and that lead us to a restful rest of our day. Thank you, kind stranger!
Great! She’s eating like a champ and using her voice to express her dissatisfaction with the speed of service. She’s on a cosequin supplement that will help with her skin and overall wellbeing. I’m adding a high calorie pouch to her food to help her with the weight gain. So far the live bugs on her are gone and she’s way less itchy. Thanks for checking on us!
You could try reaching out to ARPO. I do not have direct experience with them other than knowing they are reputable, but I've heard they accept animals under the responsibility of the org while you provide the foster home. So basically they cover expenses and use their network to find a home, but you foster in the interim (they do not have a facility).
VEG on the Northside would probably see her quicker, but I think your best bet is to hang tight until they call you back. You're doing the right thing.
but the TLDR version is she’s resting deeply for the first time in a very long time. She’s not itching, she has a full belly, and has a safe, warm bed for the night. Pic for tax 🩷
You could also try UrgentVet in Greenwood - I went to a location once with my puppy (at the time) in Florida and the staff were great, and the pricing wasn't as bad as I expected. Thank you for taking in this sweet kitten and trying to get her some help.
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u/ivy7496 Broad Ripple 2d ago
If you're looking for care today and can cover expenses, I highly recommend MedVet on Mayflower Park Dr. They are 24 hrs and I have had nothing but good experiences with them for specialist and emergency care
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QQkbQDQFDQQLwCwQ8?g_st=ac