Paintball Wars Are Not Fun For Everyone!
Please, remember this face and let people know that paintballs CAN injure animals!
This sweet cat was gone for two days. When he came back home his beautiful, black fur was matted and covered with what appeared to be blood. He was stiff, sore, and starving. His left eyelid was swollen shut and crusted over.
Upon further investigation at the veterinarian, it was discovered that the substance all over him was not blood. There were no wounds when patches of hair were shaved, but there were purplish/pink marks on his skin that appeared to be bruises.
The more his hair was moved around to examine the skin, the more the substance dried, and began to flake. The flaking was a hot pink color. A bath was given, thinking he had possibly gotten into something. The result of the bath was that all of the "bruises" disappeared. Even while towel drying, hot pink and orange spots covered the white towel. It appears this cat was repeatedly shot by paintball guns!
One of the paintballs hit the cat in his left eye, causing severe trauma. It is believed the swelling will go down, and that the blood filling his eye will resolve itself with medications, and vision will return. However, he easily could have lost function in this eye.
UPDATE: This cat has NOT regained full function in this eye. The trauma was great enough that a blood clot formed that has not been reduced much with medication. The iris is not able to function normally, and the result is a definite lack of normal sight in that eye. He is doing well adjusting to his new handicap, but this didn't have to happen!
Despite the lack of broken bones or lacerations, this cat was injured. Paintballs can cause a lot of pain when aimed at such a small creature.
Please, if you know of kids or adults that enjoy paintballs, remind them it is cruel to turn these on animals!