Despite the pain he must have felt, the tiny black kitten was affectionate and demanded pets from his new friends at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS).

Just an hour before, on that cold day in December 2023, a community member came across the sickly kitten and knew immediately he needed help. Since she wasn’t allowed to have cats in her home, she brought him to DCHS and asked us to take good care of him.

It was clear little Beet Root had issues with his eyes, but his troubles were even worse upon further examination: he was underweight, missing some teeth, and infested with fleas. DCHS’s veterinary staff quickly started the young kitten on pain medication and antibiotics to make him more comfortable.

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“Beet Root’s right eye was very swollen and large, sticking out from the eye socket,” explains Uri Donnett, DCHS’s Lead Shelter Veterinarian. “This often happens due to infections inside the eye that cause swelling.

“His left eye was small and likely had previously had an ulcer, ruptured, and was in the process of healing,” Uri continues. He thinks Beet Root probably developed these eye problems from viral infections.

Our veterinarians decided the best path forward was to enucleate, or remove, Beet Root’s right eye and possibly his left, which had likely lost vision already.

Without treatment, his right eye would almost certainly rupture, too.

The swelling and eventual rupture would be excruciating and cause blindness, and his eyes could get infected or be damaged if the kitten ran into something he couldn’t see. Enucleation removes such risks, and Beet Root would be far less likely to have long-term issues.

A few days after his arrival at DCHS, Beet Root received his first surgery to remove his painful right eye. The procedure went well, and Beet Root was soon on the mend, navigating well and loving all the attention he got from staff and volunteers. Our veterinarians still wanted to remove his left eye to reduce the possibility of future infections, but they didn’t want him to undergo another surgery so soon.

We also didn’t want Beet Root waiting in the shelter for a procedure if an adopter could take him home sooner. Our staff wrote a note encouraging his future adopter to call our Animal Medical Services Coordinator to schedule Beet Root’s left eye removal — at no extra cost to the adopter — and made him available for adoption.

The adorable kitten worked very hard to get the attention of adopters, rubbing against his kitty condo and greeting visitors. He loved to play as he continued to get stronger, and his purring was as loud as ever.

“I knew the minute I saw him that I’d be taking him home!” says Ella, who met the kitten in January 2024. “His playfulness and happiness drew me to him even after all he’s been through. He was just a happy cat playing with his toys. So cute.”

Ella took him home that same day and renamed him Baby Root.

“Baby Root is doing great now!” Ella reports. “His favorite place to hang out is on the couch or on his cat tree. He starts purring the moment I start petting him or playing with him. He’s so gentle, sweet, and polite. He loves playing with mice and any toy that makes noise.”

Once he was settled in his new home, Ella brought Baby Root to the shelter one last time. He was healthy and happy, ready for his final eye removal.

After the successful surgery, our veterinary staff sent Ella home with antibiotics and pain and anti-anxiety medications to help Baby Root recover from his procedure.

“It doesn’t bother him that he lost his sight,” Ella says. “He rarely runs into anything in my apartment and will follow me around as if he could see.

“He brings a lot of happiness to my life,” Ella shares. “I can’t imagine my life without him.”

Because of incredible supporters like you, DCHS could provide Baby Root with the care he needed to be happy and healthy going into his next chapter. With your continued support, we can ensure adopters don’t have to miss out on wonderful new family members because of costly veterinary care. Please donate today so we’re ready to help the next animal in need.