A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a Helston woman raise £2,000 to cover emergency treatment for her beloved rescue cat.

Ruth Cleaver’s rescue cat Bugsy is currently in a Cornwall veterinary hospital 20 miles away, where he is receiving urgent needed life-saving treatment.

Bugsy went missing around November 10, 2024. After nearly a week of being gone, Ruth said she became ‘very concerned’.

“I put messages out to friends, and one friend helped spread the word further by putting a message out on Facebook,” Ruth explained.

“There was a possible early sighting of him and a few false starts, but they were soon dismissed as the days went on.

“Then out of the blue on Friday, November 22 my brother and I discovered him under the fir tree at the top of our old garden.”

Initially, both Ruth and her brother thought Bugsy had died, and he wasn’t responding to their calls. However, once close to him, he raised his head.

Although he was alive, it was clear that Bugsy was in a lot of pain and was weak. Ruth laid him down on a warm blanket near the fire, with plans to have him checked out the next morning.

But later that evening, Ruth became increasingly concerned about Bugsy’s breathing, and the vet urged her to bring him in straight away.

“When we arrived, it was quickly determined that Bugsy was extremely dehydrated and in a lot of pain due to an injury to one of his back legs,” said Ruth. “The vet immediately put him on fluids and painkillers.”

Bugsy made it through the night and is now responding to treatment, much to Ruth’s delight.

But now, faced with a £2,000 vet bill, Ruth hopes that people will be kind enough to donate to help cover some of the costs.

She has set up a fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/f/bugsy-my-beautiful-blueeyed-rescue-cat where people can leave donations and also read more about Bugsy's story.

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Ruth added: “This is important to me because Bugsy is the most beautiful, gentle giant, who has had an extremely tough life and deserves to spend the rest of his days surrounded with love, comfort, affection and food, without worrying about where the next meal will come from, or fear of being attacked.

"When I rushed him into the emergency centre I was prepared for either outcome. I knew that if the vet had said that they couldn't do anything for him, I would have accepted that. But, we all agreed that he is a fighter with 'nine lives' in the truest sense of the expression. And this is why I am appealing to you for help.

"All funds raised will go towards covering the costs for his hospitalisation, emergency overnight admission, essential fluids, painkillers, anti-biotics, x-ray and any further operations required. Anything you can donate, no matter how large or small, will be extremely appreciated!"