Catch the Kitten is a 6 year old, bay mare who came to us in partnership with Beyond the Wire in Maryland. Kitten raced 28 times and had her last race and recorded workout in May. Kitten is by Blame and out of a Kitten's Joy mare which means she has some pretty cool breeding if you explore her pedigree.

Kitten came to ATR after having a recent slab fracture repaired by renowned surgeon Dr. Patty Hogan. She also removed a chip from her other knee while she was in there. Patty hoped she would have a good prognosis to a mid-to-upper level riding career once healed.

Unfortunately, even though Kitten was an excellent patient (and an even better eater!) she was not returning to soundness on schedule, so she was given extra time and several rounds of joint therapies (HA, prostride, arthramid), frequently re-examined, repeated imaging, and every chance to improve. After 5 months her condition deteriorated further and she became almost non-weight bearing on her right front. Our vet and the surgeon communicated throughout the process and while it was truly disappointing, we can't always measure the extent of cartilage loss or predict degenerative joint disease that sometimes develops suddenly after surgery or around an injury.

After more than 5 months of so much love and care provided not just by staff but an army of volunteers who adored her, Kitten was released from her pain and suffering by way of a humane euthanasia on our farm.