Life may seem dreamy in Oahu, Hawaii, but one cat named Beastie went through hell for months until rescuers came along. Caregivers at Central Oahu Regional Park found him in a gutter, and while trying to catch him, they later noticed a metal skewer stuck in his mouth! When they tried to rescue him, he ran away, disappearing for two months.
In October, he appeared again, but by that time, his mouth was stuck permanently open. At least he proved easier to catch this time, but he needed immediate veterinary attention.
“When he showed back up in October, he could no longer open or shut his mouth completely. Luckily, he was easily trapped this time and was seen quickly by a veterinarian,” shared Cat People of Oahu.
Images and media via Facebook/Cat People of Oahu
Beastie remained sweet and lovable with his rescuers despite being so horrendously injured.
Beastie’s Mouth was Stuck Open
Once at the vet, they started Beastie on medicine to get the inflammation down, but his mouth was stuck open. Just trying to eat wet food drained his energy to the point of exhaustion.
“Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were unsuccessful in helping him regain any range of motion. Poor Beastie’s mouth was stuck open only 1.5 cm, and it took him 20-45 minutes just to eat one meal. It was so exhausting for him!”
First, the vet did a CT scan of his jaw, which indicated he would be a good candidate for surgery. Then, he went to a dental specialist for complex and very expensive surgery.
“We could not just give up on him – he is just so affectionate and loving despite everything he has been through,” they said.
Beastie Has a Ravenous Appetite
Even under anesthesia, Beastie’s mouth remained stuck, unable to fully open or close due to all the inflammation. But after surgery, the long-suffering cat could begin eating again, and boy, did he!
Post-surgery picture
He had a ravenous appetite and started eating as if he’d never seen food before that same evening.
“Beastie’s surgery was extremely complex – he required a left-sided condylectomy, resection of the coronoid process, and partial or complete resection of the zygomatic arch. Or – as we put it – they removed a huge portion of the left side of his jaw. His surgery went extremely well, and he was able to eat wet food later that evening!”
The rescuers shared a video showing how hungry Beastie wanted as much food as possible.
The Surgery Cost Thousands
Unfortunately, the complex surgery had a sky-high price tag at over $5K, but the rescuers knew Beastie deserved life. A CT scan alone was over $1K.
“We know that is an extraordinary amount, and some people may even question our decision to have opted for surgery versus euthanasia. But we ultimately believe that his life matters and that he deserved the chance to live a normal, happy life,” they said.
Depending on donations, they asked for help in paying the bill, one of many as they saved multiple struggling cats.
“Please keep Beastie in your thoughts as we are hoping for a full recovery with the interventions we are trying. He deserves to live a normal life, and it can’t be fun to have your mouth never open. Mahalo for all those involved in saving him!”
An Appetite for Life
Post-surgery, Beastie got a bath for the first time and was so sweet.
Then, he had a two-week checkup, and he did great!
“Beastie went to his two-week checkup on Tuesday, and they said he looks great! He got his stitches out and is no longer required to wear the cone of shame. Thanks to vet tech Cristina for posing with our miracle boy at his visit!”
Two weeks later, Beastie was eating like it was going out of style and could tackle dry food. Thanks to the rescue and many caring people, this cat doesn’t have to suffer and can live a happy life without pain in Hawaii.
For more, you can follow and support Cat People of Oahu on Facebook and Instagram.
