From rescued to rehomed: Finnick’s story

When our team first met Finnick, they could tell by his laboured breathing and his weak little body that he had an uphill battle ahead of him.

“He was so scared, and very skinny and dehydrated,” says our team member Sophie. “But his breathing was the biggest concern.

“He had terrible cat flu, and his nose was so congested. He would try and purr when we patted him, but he was just struggling to breathe. It was heartbreaking to see.”

Receiving urgent veterinary treatment, he was provided with medication for cat flu. He was under close watch from staff and volunteers monitoring his progress, as everyone crossed their fingers hoping to see an improvement.

After multiple check ups, the team was very concerned about his lack of progress. If it had just been cat flu, the medication should have had some sort of impact in helping to clear up his congestion.

“When his wheezing still wasn’t improving, we knew something was really wrong,” Sophie says.

The vet team were able to perform an in-depth examination – and discovered a nasal pharyngeal polyp.

“This was essentially a large growth in his throat, which explained why he struggling to breathe!” Sophie says. “They did surgery to remove this for him, and it was over 2cm wide.”

The vet team also did a nasal flush to help clear his congestion, and Finnick was on the road to recovery.

“After those procedures and a course of antibiotics, we were all relieved to see him start to gain weight, and his condition just got so much better.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Finnick was able to go into a loving foster home to continue his recovery.

“He thrived in foster,” says Sophie. “He was just loving all the cuddles, staying warm by the fireplace, and having space to relax outside of the busy Centre.”

Once he’d had his desexing surgery, he was ready to be listed for adoption!

This is when Freya and her partner came along, and the stars aligned – they knew he was the one, and they gave him a forever home.

“Finns is settling in so well with us!” Freya says. “He’s super energetic and curious – everything is a toy. He cuddles up to us in bed every night, and we love him so much already."

Recoveries like Finnick’s happen every day at SPCA, thanks to the support of generous donors, volunteers, and foster homes.

To learn more about how you can get involved and help animals like Finnick, check out the ‘How you can help’ page of our site.