RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – A cat rescued from a 50-foot tree near McQueen High School in November needs surgery to repair a liver shunt, and a local veterinary clinic is raising funds to cover the cost.
The cat, now named Bear, is scheduled for surgery Monday, January 12 at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Options Veterinary Care launched a fundraiser to help cover the estimated $6,000-plus procedure.
Bear was rescued in November after being trapped up a tree during a storm. Firefighters were unable to reach the cat, so volunteer cat rescuer Stacey and professional arborist Brian from Bear Mountain Arborist helped get the cat down.
Medical diagnosis reveals serious condition
After the rescue, Bear was taken to Options Veterinary Care, where he received fluids and treatment but continued showing signs of illness. Tests revealed he has a liver shunt, a condition he was born with that prevents blood from passing through his liver properly, causing toxins to build up…