Out of the Cage! (Winter 2007)

The Tale of the "Painted Cat"

by Valerie Sicignano, NYC Feral Cat Initiative

It was 1:00 a.m. when Manhattan resident David Corbin discovered a young seven-pound feral cat covered in what looked like paint in the alleyway next to his apartment building. Fearing the cat would get frostbite on such a cold January night, he contacted the NYC Feral Cat Initiative for advice. With guidance from Initiative staff and a borrowed trap, David trapped the cat and brought him to Murray Hill Pet Hospital on East 30th Street for emergency care. Dr. Daniel Lauridia, DVM, and his hospital staff stayed open late to receive the traumatized cat, now referred to as the "Painted Cat."

Upon examination, Dr. Lauridia discovered that the Painted Cat was covered in what appeared to be liquid pipe insulating foam that had hardened. The hardened chemical actually squeaked when he walked. Time was of the essence, because the substance was so extensive that the cat's skin couldn't breathe, a condition that would prove fatal within hours. What's more, the toxic substance would absorb into the skin, creating another potentially fatal condition. Dr. Lauridia painstakingly pried — and shaved — away the coating until he was able to completely remove the deadly substance from his patient.

Thanks to the care of an extremely observant rescuer and an exceptionally meticulous veterinarian, the Painted Cat is now in a new home, living indoors, waiting for his coat to grow back in.

The Painted Cat's tale is a reminder of how important it can be to our furry neighbors for people to keep an eye out for those that might fall into harm's way. It's likely that the Painted Cat would agree!