Stubby's Medical Journey
Stubby is a stubborn, determined cat—qualities that usually serve him well. But one winter night, those traits led him into a dangerous fight that changed everything.
As we were tucking the cats in for the night, we found Stubby squaring off with an unfamiliar black cat (later known as Mando) in the yard. When Mando tried to flee, Stubby chased him through the alley and into a neighbor’s driveway. They fought several times along the way—fur flying, claws out, neither willing to surrender. In the driveway, Stubby was likely body‑slammed into the cement or an elevated walkway. We saw him stagger, shaken and disoriented. We scooped him up and brought him inside the castle, relieved to find only minor scratches. He settled in for the night, and we hoped the worst was over.
It wasn’t.
Stubby’s medical journey—and his continued care—were only possible because of people who believe cats like him deserve safety, treatment, and love. His emergency vet visit, diagnostics, medications, and weeks of specialized care were funded entirely through donations.
Cats like Stubby need ongoing support. They need a rescue that refuses to give up on them. If Stubby’s story moved you, please consider supporting Catopia. Your donation helps us provide lifesaving medical care, long‑term sanctuary, and a future where every abandoned or overlooked cat gets the chance Stubby did.
Over the next few days, Stubby began acting strangely. He avoided the garage—one of his favorite hangouts—and resisted coming out of the satellite shelters in the evenings. When we tried to bring him inside for warmth, he ran to the door and sat there, confused and hesitant. Something was wrong.
In daylight, we finally saw it clearly: Stubby’s eyes had clouded over. He was losing his vision—fast.
We rushed him to the emergency vet. Bloodwork ruled out the most serious diseases (thankfully), leaving two possibilities: acute trauma or an aggressive eye disease. Given the timing, trauma was the likely culprit. We started steroid eye drops immediately, hoping to reduce inflammation and save his sight.
For weeks, Stubby received eye drops three times a day and stayed in an isolated shelter so he could heal safely. Slowly—miraculously—his vision returned. The trauma from the fight had severely injured his eyes, causing inflammation that led to sudden blindness. Today, he still has a small scratch in his left eye, a permanent reminder of that night, but he is thankfully back to being regular Stubby.
