‘Precious’ Cat Rescued from L.A. Fires Now Recovering in Shelter: ‘His Healing Is Coming Along Beautifully’

The feline — who the rescue shelter named Mr. Cat — came to the organization with "burns all over" and "bleeding" paws

Mr. Cat, rescued from the Los Angeles wildfires
Mr. Cat at Mario's Paw Animal Rescue. Photo:

Mario's Paw/Instagram

  • Mario’s Paw Animal Rescue shared in an Instagram post that a cat in their care after being rescued from the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires is currently on the road to recovery
  • The feline, dubbed "Mr. Cat," is “healing beautifully” after he came to the shelter with “burns all over” and “bleeding” paws, according to staff
  • The organization also confirmed they are not accepting applications to adopt Mr. Cat “until he is fully healed"

A cat rescued from the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires is on the road to recovery.

Mario’s Paw Animal Rescue, who have affectionately called the feline Mr. Cat, shared in an Instagram update posted on Jan. 16 that the cat is “healing beautifully” after he came to the shelter with “burns all over” and “bleeding” paws.

“He’s on Day Four of healing!!! Today at the vet he had his bandages switched out on all four of his paws. His healing is coming along beautifully!!! ❤️‍🩹,” the post’s caption began. 

“His scabs are falling off on his lips and face. His ears have necrosis so the tips where they’re black will fall off. 😩,” the post, which featured clips of the cat eating Churu cat treats and lying on blankets with his paws bandaged, continued. “He seems to be more comfortable but is still not using the litter box. He just pees all over himself where he lays in his bed box. We are hoping as his paws continue to heal and be less painful that he will start using it!”

“We are using wipes to give him little baths throughout the day and switching out his blankets and pee pads,” the caption added. “He is still receiving subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics and two pain medications. He doesn’t walk around so we serve him his food multiple times a day. We love spoiling this precious boy! 🥹.”

The caption concluded by thanking people for their donations of food and money towards Mr. Cat’s vet bills.

An Instagram post shared on Jan. 20 also revealed that the furry companion is “feeling a little better each day and he knows it.” “Mr. Cat loves going to hydrotherapy. He was so relaxed today in the warm water that he fell asleep while mushing his paws! His recovery will take months and it will be a slow process, but he’s such a good sport about it,” the caption read.

The organization also confirmed they are not accepting applications to adopt Mr. Cat “until he is fully healed.”

Mr. Cat, rescued from the Los Angeles wildfires
Mr. Cat at Mario's Paw Animal Rescue.

Mario's Paw/Instagram

In an earlier Instagram post, the rescue shelter revealed that the feline’s owner had “surrendered him” after their California home “burnt to the ground.”

Mr. Cat arrived at Mario’s Paw Animal Rescue  — which is based in Oregon — on Jan. 12 after being transferred from a local shelter in California.

“He has burns all over and his poor paws are bleeding. But, he has the loveliest purr and took his pain med, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory like a champ!” the Instagram update on his arrival included, adding, “It is very common for existing animals to be transferred out of state to other shelters and rescues in cases of disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.”

A photo shared by the organization also showed the cat soon after the fire, with his fur appearing matted and black.

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Thousands are still under evacuation orders amid the fires, while the death toll has risen to 27, according to an update from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner on Jan. 16.

Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

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