Faces of No-Kill: Cat heals from injury in style

If tails could talk, Marble’s tabby tail would have quite the tale to tell. This sweet, young kitty came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary from a nearby shelter with two seriously broken back legs and needed urgent care.

Best Friends veterinarians quickly went to work, giving her pain medication, antibiotics to ward off infection, fluids to keep her hydrated, and a large dose of TLC. They also took X-rays and determined that Marble needed to visit a veterinary specialist due to the complexity and severity of her condition.

The team carefully bundled up Marble in a cozy carrier and drove this resilient little cat three hours away to her appointment in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, veterinary specialists had to amputate her left leg due to the severity of the break, but they were able to save her right leg by placing tiny metal pins to help her bones heal correctly. Next came a small splint to further stabilize her leg, and then they wrapped everything in a bundle of adorable “bandage art.”

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“When she came back from the specialist in Las Vegas, they had her leg wrapped in bandages with Hello Kitty images,” says Gina Piazza, a Best Friends veterinary technician. “It was really cute, and I wanted to continue that for her.”

Bandage art is the latest in veterinary fashion, and Marble is the best model. From colorful hearts to spooky ghosts, Marble’s bandage art is helping her look and feel her best. “It’s really important for Marble’s healing that she has adorable bandages,” laughs veterinarian Dr. Nicole Smee.

Along with her daily bandage changes, Marble also receives laser therapy to help accelerate the healing process. The laser's focused light helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and ease pain and stiffness.

“She’s seriously an incredible cat,” says Dr. Nicole. “I’m surprised how friendly she is, given all she’s been through. She's really sweet. She doesn’t need sedation for bandage changes, but it takes two people — one to hold and give chin scratches and the other to change the bandage.”

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Her once-skinny frame is filling out nicely (due, in part, to the yummy treats she enjoys during bandage changes), and with regular brushing, her beautiful tabby-striped fur is starting to shine again. In fact, brushing is one of her favorite recovery activities. She really loves brushing. Really, really loves it. When Dr. Nicole calls her name, she scoots out from her favorite cardboard box, ready for the brushing to begin. After all, she needs to keep her coat glossy to show off her fashionable bandage art.

“Now that she’s feeling better, she’s more interested in things,” says Dr. Nicole. “She plays with toys and is super talkative now.”

With each passing day, Marble grows stronger (and a smidge sassier), her once-shy purr now a full-throated rumble as she soaks up her well-deserved pampering. She’s blossomed from a fragile little fighter into a spirited diva cruising toward recovery and a home of her own. And when that day comes, one can imagine she’ll keep her tabby tail held high, carrying her tale of courage wherever she goes.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.