Neighbor Rescues Injured Cat—X-Ray Reveals the Unthinkable

An act of concern turned into a disturbing revelation when a stray cat turned out far more injured than his rescuer realized.

The cat, now named Brewster, was rushed to an emergency vet clinic by a neighbor, where it was revealed that the feline was shot in the leg. The realization led to a plea for help from North Shore Animal League America in a Facebook post, which reached at least 10,000 people who reacted to it.

Initially, it was suspected that Brewster had been hit by a car, but X-rays revealed a far more sinister truth: Brewster had been shot, leaving him with a severely fractured front leg.

The rescue shared Brewster’s harrowing story. “URGENT RESCUE ALERT: Brewster Needs You. Brewster’s life nearly ended before it had a chance to begin,” it wrote. “His only option would have been euthanasia unless someone was able to help…That’s where we came in.”

With his “shattered front leg” and no owner to afford his necessary medical care, Brewster faced the grim prospect of euthanasia. That’s when the rescue stepped in, taking the tuxedo cat into its care. He was first brought to its Adirondack campus before being transported to the Port Washington, New York campus. There, a medical team grew determined to do everything possible for his injury.

“They are working urgently to stabilize him and explore every option before turning to amputation as a last resort,” the post read. The organization emphasized its commitment to the cat, stating, “Brewster suffered for days, but we are committed to his care and his comfort. His recovery will take time, medical expertise, and critical resources. All of which we’re committed to providing for this sweet, handsome boy.”

How Did People React?

The story of Brewster’s brutal injury ignited outrage and sympathy among Facebook users. Many condemned the perpetrator who appeared to have shot the cat.

“Poor Brewster! Who…could shoot a poor cat! I hope the perpetrator is caught and serves some serious jail time and fined heavily for this horrible abuse! Brewster is a handsome Tuxie cat with a cute face! Hope he heals up just fine and gets his furever home asap!”

Other users shared similar experiences of finding injured strays and praised the rescue’s efforts. One person recounted a personal story: “Years ago, we had a stray cat who took refuge in our garage—I left the door open just enough so he could get in—had food, water and a bed. One day, I opened the door and he was waiting for me with blood on his fur. A local rescue group took him in and got him taken care of at the vet. He had been shot, but he was okay. They named him ‘Bullet.’ He was fostered and ended up being adopted…was so thankful for the rescue group.”

The broader issue of animal cruelty and the vulnerability of cats drew passionate responses.

“Thank you for helping this fur baby,” another commenter wrote. “Wish we could save them all…actually I wish ‘saving’ cats wasn’t ever necessary.”

North Shore Animal League America is urging the public to donate now to help cover Brewster’s extensive medical costs, emphasizing their commitment to providing him “the care, comfort, and second chance he truly deserves.”

Newsweek reached out to North Shore Animal League America for comment via email.