Appeal for sick stray cat Maximus hits £8,000 as foster home wanted

A fundraising appeal for a sick stray cat found in Great Bar has hit more than £8,000.

Maximus the cat is being looked after by vets in Wolverhampton

Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands, which is based in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, has raised far more than its original fundraising target of £1,000 for Maximus the cat and is now looking for a long-term foster home.

Maximus, who has been a stray for at least 10 years, is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) positive, has a number of infections and his claws are curling under into his paw, causing him huge discomfort.

He has been receiving treatment at White Cross Vets in Wolverhampton but the bill is increasing.

Maximus is treated with daily fluids, IV antibiotics, sedation, and his bloods are taken every day, so the bill currently stands at £3,500.

Thanks to the team from the animal rescue and vet Amy Jennett Wheeler, Maximus is getting the treatment he needs.

Lucy Strickland, who set up the cat rescue in 2018, said: "Amy is Maximus' main vet and she's just phenomenal.

Maximus was found in a very bad condition, but the staff at Stray Cat Rescue Team have been taking care of him

"I often walk in and find her sat on the floor with him feeding him, fussing him, playing with him, researching different medication for him - she even knitted him a jumper.

"At the moment, Maximus' treatment is at around £3,500 for the cutting edge medicines and treatment, but we're expecting that to rise, the medicine has been very expensive, especially the human drugs we are using.

"We are way over our target that's for sure. Anything not used will be used for White Cross, the vets are aware of how much we have raised, and it means future cats who are super sick won't need to worry."

The poorly cat is starting to get back on his feet with the help of staff at the rescue

Posts about Maximus on Stay Cat Rescue Team West Midlands' Facebook page have been shared hundreds of times – and have received responses from as far as Texas and Mexico.

People can donate by visiting Stray Cat Rescue Team's PayPal account, by visiting www.paypal.me/straycatrescueteamwm. They can also call White Cross Vets to donate on 01902 599880.

To follow updates on Maximus' recovery journey, search for Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands on Facebook.