Cat left with life-threatening injuries gets new 'leash' on life after finding loving Walsall home
Benito was subjected to a list of life-threatening injuries at the hands of his former owner.
British blue, Benito, has been given a new forever-home after being subjected to repeat abuse incidents involving blunt force trauma by his former owners.
The ordeal started when Benito was presented to a West Midlands-based veterinarian with a catalogue of horrific injuries.
The injuries included an injured chest, limping in his hind leg, a limp tail, an injured pelvic bone, a fractured leg, and a fractured right femur.
All of Benito's injuries were found to have been sustained separately between March 2023 and September 2023 - the first year of his life.
In November 2023, Benito was taken back to the vets by his former owner as he was meowing when walking and seemed weak on his feet.
Veterinarians found that he was also suffering from a head tremor, knuckling on all four limbs, and his behaviour was dulled and reserved. Further investigations found that he also had a fractured spine.
After noticing the repeated issues, the vets contacted the RSPCA, and the animal welfare charity stepped in to investigate.
Investigation
Animal Rescue Officer, Cara Gibbon, attended the veterinarian practice with a police officer and on arrival, they found that Benito appeared hand-shy when stroking near his face, and was lying on his side as he was unable to stand. West Midlands Police officers took Benito into their possession and passed him into the RSPCA's care.
Inspector Viki Taylor, from the RSPCA, said: "Benito was taken into the vet with yet another injury which was then reported to the RSPCA. It is saddening to see the history of Benito and all the injuries he has sustained in a short period of time.
"The investigation also revealed a photograph of a burn that Benito had suffered. Benito was clearly being hurt regularly by his owner. The vets had raised concerns to the owners, and the cruelty still continued.
"Even when Benito was trying to recover from the last injury, he would be taken to the vets again with another. This is quite saddening to think what Benito was going through and felt."
Benito's owner was ultimately prosecuted by the RSPCA and sentenced to 18 months' immediate custody and banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
Rehabilitation
Benito was transferred to the RSPCA's Newbrook Animal Hospital, where he received pain relief, antibiotics and physiotherapy for his vertebral fracture.
He was also required to take pain relief medication every eight hours for a month, as well as be on cage-rest for six weeks with gentle physiotherapy.
Staff members would have to turn Benito every sex hours with gentle handling to help support his blood circulation while he healed.
He also had to be fed in a lying position on his chest to avoid causing him any more unnecessary pain.
Foster care
After showing signs of recovering well from his injuries, Benito was placed into foster care in May 2024 with Sugra Sabri, 54, and her daughter Razeenah, from Walsall.
Sugra said, "When we took him home on the first day. I was driving and my daughter was in the back trying to comfort him through the cat carrier.
"He was panting and breathing really heavily. We had a separate room ready for him so that he could get used to his own space before venturing into the rest of the house.
"At first, he wasn't interested in food; he just huddled in the corner. He didn't want anyone near him. It took him about a week, but slowly he came into the kitchen to have a nose around."
Over the course of five months, Benito would get used to his surroundings, and over that time, he would learn to love humans again, even sitting near Sugra and her daughter and lying on the floor for pets.
Forever-home
Sugra and her daughter became so smitten with Benito, now called Benny, that she decided to make the arrangements official and adopted the now two-year-old cat.
She said: "I originally wanted to foster lots of different cats, but Benny is just so adorable, sweet and gentle. The idea of giving him up just didn't sit right with me.
"My daughter has grown really close to him too - he turned two this month, and it was also my daughter's birthday, so we had a joint birthday party. We all love him and he brings us lots of joy."
Sadly, Benny still has some lingering issues from his abuse, and although his injuries may have healed, Sugra says he is still incredibly jumpy and runs away when he hears sudden noises.
Sugra said: "He would shoot off when we had visitors, but now he’s quite happy to lounge around even when we have visitors, and he’s got a lot of fans.
"We call him a small cuddly bear as he’s so soft and cuddly. Visitors love him, we love him!"
