Client stories

Smoosh came to Lort Smith after another shelter couldn't rehome him.

"He was a little thin, and had scars over his eyes – clearly from a fight. But immediately a lovely cat," says Dr Paula, who gave him his first examination.

We're not going to lie: before he came to Lort Smith, life was tough. For years, Smoosh had clearly been left outside, exposed to the harsh sun.

This caused skin cancer on his ears, which is common in fair cats. His ears needed to be removed to make sure an infection didn't develop.

On top of this, our vets quickly discovered Smoosh was completely deaf.

That explained why a cat with such a gentle personality could be sporting so many battle scars from cat fights.

It was clear that in his previous life, neighbourhood feline louts used to pick on Smoosh, causing him to catch feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

A perfect match

Although he was FIV positive, Smoosh's overall health was in very good shape, and his charm took everyone by surprise.

Stacey had spotted Smoosh not long after he arrived at Lort Smith. She kept her eye on him for weeks before making her move. As time went by and he didn't find a home, she knew it was time to try him out with her FIV-positive cats at home.

To say they got on like a house on fire is an understatement. Her two cats welcomed Smoosh into the home straight away, and the adoption papers were signed soon after!

Smoosh now lives a peaceful indoor life with his two FIV-positive buddies, Mitta and Kong, and loves every minute of it.

"My boys get along so well. Kong and Mitta know that Smoosh is special needs and they are so respectful and caring towards him. I love my FIV boys," says Stacey.

FIV-positive cats shouldn't be overlooked when you're deciding to adopt. They simply have a compromised immune system, and can still live long and happy lives. And they have just as much love to give!

• Meet Martin, Adoption Centre volunteer

Atwood is a one-year-old Scottish Straight shorthair who came to Lort Smith with breathing difficulty.

"She was also over-grooming, off her food and not behaving like herself," says her concerned carer, Catherine.

Our team carried out a range of tests, including blood tests, chest X-rays, a cardiac ultrasound, fluid analysis and culture, and cytology of the skin.

Atwood was diagnosed with pyothorax: inflammatory fluid or pus in the chest cavity (the area between the lungs and the inner walls of the ribs). Pyothorax is generally caused by a bacterial infection and is life-threatening.

Atwood was also anaemic, and had developed skin lesions from over-grooming. This was possibly caused by an allergy to flea treatments or diet.

Round-the-clock care

Atwood's prognosis was poor, but our team was determined to do everything possible for this much-loved cat.

She had around-the-clock care in our Intensive Care Unit and was placed in an oxygen crib. A drain was placed in her chest cavity to remove the fluid and pus. She was given antibiotics and pain relief, and our vet nurses fed her by syringe.

As the days passed, Atwood's chest continued to drain slowly and she began to eat on her own. She became feistier, which showed she was regaining her strength, and her catitude!

All up, Atwood spent eight days at Lort Smith before our vets were comfortable she was out of the woods. She went home with oral medication, wearing a cone of shame, to her very relieved and doting family.

Trust your instincts

Atwood survived because her carer was observant and knew she was behaving out of the ordinary. If you have concerns about your pet's health, don't hesitate to call Lort Smith on 03 9328 3021, or see our emergency information if you think it's an emergency.

"We are so lucky to have such dedicated and skilled vets and nurses at Lort Smith as well as the amazing facilities there. Without the medical care and loving attention she received, including a procedure late on a Saturday night, Atwood wouldn't have celebrated her first birthday this week – we will always be so grateful to everyone who looked after her and all the other animals for whom they care!" says Catherine.

Atwood is as happy as a clam to be back with her family, and intends to make the most of her remaining eight lives!

Dennis came to Lort Smith when he fell out of his carer's arms. X-rays confirmed a greenstick fracture, which is more common in young, soft or growing bones.

Our vets gave him a splint to wear for three weeks, and asked his carers to bring him back each week for a bandage change and assessment. This was to protect Dennis from infection and make sure his fracture was healing properly.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Dennis didn't make it back to Lort Smith until four weeks later.

Poor Dennis's leg had become very swollen, and he had developed pressure sores where the bandage should have had weekly vet attention.

He was kept overnight for treatment, and went home with a care plan his carers could manage.

The next week, when Dennis came back to Lort Smith, he was sore again! He had got into mischief while recovering at home, and had fractured his shinbone as well.

Knowing they couldn't provide the right home for such an excitable pup, Dennis's carers asked Lort Smith to help him with his multiple fractures, and then find him the perfect family.

A long recovery

Dennis went straight into surgery to have his second fracture fixed with a plate and screws. After a few days in hospital, he went into foster care with one of our vets, where he could be closely monitored in a home environment.

After six weeks, his post-operative check-up showed the first greenstick fracture had got worse. Dennis had to go back into surgery to shorten his ulna bone so he could walk properly. Another ten weeks of recovery and rehabilitation in foster care helped get Dennis's legs back in working order.

As soon as our vet surgeons gave him the all clear, Dennis was available for adoption!

Life with Sam and Bel

When Sam and Bel met Dennis, they instantly knew he was the perfect, energetic boy to give them endless memories of fun and companionship.

These days, "Dennis the Menace" can be found playing with furry friends at the park or beach. He's always the one to run into the middle and be social with every single dog.

Dennis may not have had the easiest start to life, spending most of his time recovering from multiple injuries and surgeries. But it's inspiring how he hasn't let any of it get in his way. Thank you to our incredible donors and the people who leave gifts in their Wills for helping us care for Dennis.

Lort Smith Animal Hospital operates just as a human hospital does. Our extensive facilities and broad range of specialist equipment let us provide the highest level of veterinary care.

Stray ginger cat M9 was found by a concerned community member and brought to Lort Smith with blood on his paw.

Our vets examined all his paws and found M9 had pododermatitis, also known as pillow foot. Put simply, it's a foot pad disease in cats that causes painful inflammation. M9's paws were cleaned and he was given pain relief.

You may be thinking M9 is a strange name for a cat, but rest assured, it's his actual name. And we know this because… he was microchipped! Hooray for responsible pet ownership!

Missing for four years

When we contacted M9's family, they were in utter disbelief. It turns out M9 had been missing for almost four years!

M9 was two years old when he went missing. Until then, he was an indoor-only cat who his family describe as "one of the boys".

"He was such a chilled out, affectionate cat that wasn't bothered by anything," says Nicole, a member of M9's family.

M9's family have no idea how he got outside, but one day he just disappeared. They walked around their neighbourhood for days, spoke to all their neighbours and visited vets and shelters, with no luck. M9 was their first family cat and they were devastated, as was Biggles, the resident Labradoodle and M9's best mate. The family assumed he may have been hit by a car and died. Wherever he was, they just hoped he wasn't suffering.

M9's whereabouts always niggled at the back of their minds, and they would always look twice at ginger cats in the hope of spotting him. Then, four years later, M9's family got a message they thought would never come: M9 had turned up!

"Oh my Lord," said mum Petsa when she heard the news. Her family ran around the house and called their friends to share the miracle news.

Home again

During his short stay at Lort Smith, M9 was treated for pillow foot, and was also desexed, vaccinated and tested for FIV. His family knew straight away it was M9 by the shape of his face and the freckles around his nose.

"Besides his feet, he looked healthy, chunky even," says Nicole.

M9 was a little scared at first, but quickly settled back into life at home and is enjoying a comfy bed to sleep on each night.

M9's FIV test came back positive, which he didn't have before he went missing. But his family aren't fazed in the slightest.

"He can still live a long and healthy life. And it doesn't stop you from loving them," says Nicole.

M9 is slowly being introduced to Oscar, the new cat in the house, and will soon be reunited with his doggy pal Biggles.

M9's family were Lort Smith clients before his four-year adventure, and will continue to be. They appreciate our payment plan options and discounted vet care for health care card holders.

M9's story shows how important it is to microchip your furry family members.

"It's so important if you want to be reunited with your pet," says Nicole.

"Lort Smith did a wonderful job taking care of M9. We cannot thank them enough," says Petsa.

• Microchipping
• Lost and found pets

Janet Rice has accomplished much in her life. She is an Australian politician, member of the Australian Greens, former councillor and mayor of Maribyrnong City Council, environmentalist and one of the founding members of the Victorian Greens. But most notably, she is a proud adopter of three Lort Smith cats!

"I've always lived with cats. My wife and I had previously had two cats that we had adopted from Lort Smith in 1990. When one of them passed away in 2005, we knew we wanted another cat so the obvious thing to do was to see if Lort Smith could help us out again," remembers Janet.

And help we did! Fourteen years later, Trieste is still going strong.

Part of the team

"She was a classic kitten and was into everything. She loved to sit on my son's shoulder and still does! Trieste has always been a very affectionate cat, and wants to be with you all the time. If she isn't sitting on my lap or draped over my shoulder, she is always nearby."

This has proven tricky when Janet works from home. Trieste steps on the laptop keyboard, making it impossible to work, or insists on jumping on Janet's shoulder and getting tangled up in her headphones during video calls!

"Over the last weeks Trieste has made special appearances in online Senate committee hearings and other video conference meetings! I've taken to introducing her as part of the team!

"Trieste is always there for me, always up for a cuddle and a pat. She usually sleeps at the foot of my bed, helping to keep my toes warm, and usually knows to not wake me up until the radio comes on – then she moves and will sit on my chest, and gently reach out to pat my face with her paw if I'm not paying attention to her! Sadly my wife passed away last September so Trieste's love and affection has been very important to me in this time."

According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, a broad range of studies have found that human–animal interactions can reduce anxiety and depression, and help protect against a variety of other negative feelings and emotions. Positive human–animal interactions appear to be related to physical changes in both humans and animals, such as reduced heart rate and blood pressure.

Why adopt

"Every cat I've ever had in my life has either been adopted or has been a stray – that is, they have adopted us! There are so many cats that need a home it seems crazy not to adopt one of them rather than buying one from a breeder. And Lort Smith is a Melbourne institution, providing quality affordable veterinary services and plays a big role in promoting responsible pet care to the community, so I'm happy to be part of the Lort Smith family."

Janet encourages anyone thinking about bringing a pet into their life to "go for it!"

"It's such a rewarding relationship. But do it on the basis that your pet is a unique and individual creature – it's a relationship you are entering into. They exist beyond just giving humans pleasure; the quality of their lives matter too, so it has to be a relationship that works for both of you. And you have to be committed to responsible care, and be concerned about the wellbeing of other creatures too. With cats that means keeping them inside as necessary, and ensuring that the lives of other animals aren't threatened by your cat. I love the way that having pets can connect people with the rest of nature, and realise that there's more to life than just humans and that it's our responsibility to care for all of life, not just ourselves," says Janet.