The testament of Solomon

Solomon in his foster home in recovery
Ο Σολομών αναρρώνει στο προσωρινό σπίτι του

Solomon’s story is a sad one, but thanks to Nine Lives volunteers Magda and Rosie, a caring local vet and a group of Kifissia animal-lovers, it has a happy ending.

Nine Lives volunteer Magda found Solomon in Nea Kifissia, northern Athens. The cat caught her eye from afar because of the strange way he was walking. As she got closer, she realised that he had a wire around his waist, so tightly twisted that it was obvious even without being able to examine the cat that it had cut right into his organs.

Solomon before surgery, his injuries evident
Ο κτηνίατρος εξετάζει τα τραύματα του Σολομώντα ενώ είναι υπό αναισθησία

Although he was not able to walk very fast or do much else, Solomon managed each time to escape the trap that Magda set for him with tempting treats inside. After several tries, though, he was finally lured in and rushed to the vet, who opened up his clinic at midnight in order to operate  immediately. The vet said that he had probably been like this for more than a month, during which time the wire had caused a terrible injury to his stomach, and part of his intestines were hanging out. The vet believes that the wire had been tied around him deliberately, by human hand.

Solomon immediately after surgery

Some of the funds for his operation were raised by a wonderful volunteer team from Kifissia, to whom we are extremely grateful. He was operated successfully and he stayed at the vets for two days so the vet could make sure he recovered properly from the anaesthetic. After that, wonderful Rosie volunteered to foster him for two weeks. During his time at her home, he really flourished, eating a lot and resting, while his injuries and scars healed well. Unfortunately, though, he remained understandably nervous and suspicious of humans, and showed no signs of getting any tamer. So, after a final visit to the vets to check his wound and be neutered, he was released in a safe garden with a few other healthy cats and he is now part of a big happy cat family in Kifissia.