Tater is a four week old kitten who was found by a feeder alongside his tiny sister Tot in a backyard shed, bleeding. When we got him to the vet, x rays revealed a broken jaw.

The jaw has since healed, but asymmetrically, so one of his eyes will always look a little different from the other, a permanent reminder of how his story started. A few days after we got the good news that the fracture had healed, swelling came back at the same site. We believe it was from rough housing with his sister rather than a new injury, and the two of them were kept apart until the vet gave us the ok for them to be back together.

Then Tater had two frightening episodes where he suddenly couldn't stand, his limbs went stiff, and he lay on his side shaking his head for several minutes at a time, fully conscious throughout. We brought him straight to the emergency vet. Bloodwork showed anemia, an elevated white blood cell count, low platelets, and signs of dehydration. The vet could not rule out FIP. He was given fluids and a plan: recheck bloodwork, and a referral to a neurologist if it came to that.

Here's the good news: Tater is doing very well right now. His appetite is back, and he just needs to put his weight back on. Kittens this age have an incredible ability to heal, and his prognosis is good. We just need to get him all the way there.

Tot is safe and being cared for alongside him. These two have only ever known each other, and we're keeping them together.

We've already spent well beyond Tater's first vet visit covering his emergency care and bloodwork, and with ongoing monitoring and the possibility of a neurology referral still on the table, we're raising our goal to $2,500 to make sure he has everything he needs, however his recovery unfolds. We want to be honest with you, we still don't know exactly what full recovery will cost. What we do know is that this little guy is worth fighting for.

Help us cover what's already been spent and build a cushion for what's still ahead.

🐾 North Bergen Purr is a foster based rescue and TNR organization in Northern NJ. 100% of donations go directly to animal care.

Help Baby Tater Heal from a Broken Jaw