Christopher's Fund

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes on current, safe, shelter medicine protocols. We have reached out to the Humane Society to get more details on their surgical protocols and will update this when we have more information. We would like to get a necropsy done for Christopher which will cost $450, and would be grateful if anyone wants to help contribute to the necropsy costs by donating to Christopher's Fund.

 

We rescued Christopher on May 15, 2024, when he was just 4 weeks old—tiny, fragile, and fighting to survive alongside his two siblings. All three were suffering from severe anemia and respiratory infections, but we gave them everything we had. Christopher recovered, blossomed, and became one of the gentlest, most loving souls we’ve ever known.

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But on May 5, 2025, just ten days shy of his first rescue anniversary, Christopher died during what should have been a routine neuter at a local humane society clinic. He never even made it to the surgical table. Shortly after being injected with a sedation protocol of Butorphanol and Telazol, Christopher’s body began to fail. Though the team reportedly intubated him, performed chest compressions, and administered epinephrine, it was too late.

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We were told the drugs were “not reversible.”

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But we later learned that butorphanol is reversible, and while Telazol is still used in some high-volume spay/neuter settings, its use in cats remains controversial. Many veterinary professionals—like our former vet—avoid it due to its unpredictable effects, especially in sensitive or stressed feline patients. It offers no reversal agent and is difficult to adjust once injected intramuscularly.​​

 

We can’t bring Christopher back. But we can ensure his death wasn’t in vain.

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What Is Christopher’s Fund?

Christopher’s Fund was created to raise awareness around sedation safety, shelter medicine standards, and trauma-informed veterinary care—especially for cats like Christopher, who come from complex, fragile beginnings.

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The fund supports cats at our sanctuary, while also working to drive change in how vulnerable animals are treated before, during, and after medical procedures.

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What We’ve Learned: Safer Protocols Can Save Lives

Christopher’s sudden passing opened up a much-needed conversation about the risks of anesthesia—especially in young, sensitive, or previously ill cats. We’ve spoken with veterinary professionals who confirmed what we’ve come to believe: All anesthesia carries risk—but some protocols offer safer outcomes and better control.

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Why Pre-Anesthetic Evaluations Matter

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), every cat should receive a thorough pre-anesthetic evaluation prior to sedation. This includes:

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• A complete medical history

• A full physical exam evaluating all body systems

• Vital signs recorded and assessed

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But it also includes something often overlooked in high-volume or low-cost settings: an evaluation of the cat’s stress level.

Stress is a known risk factor for anesthetic complications, increasing the chances of adverse reactions due to catecholamine release (a surge of stress hormones). The AAFP even recommends that procedures be postponed for visibly anxious cats—and that pre-visit medications like gabapentin be used to reduce stress safely.

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In Christopher’s case, he was brought into a loud shelter setting where barking dogs could be heard from the lobby. While we were told the cats were kept separately, the environment was far from calm.

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This is exactly why trauma-informed protocols and individualized evaluations matter. No cat—especially a young, previously ill, or sensitive one—should be treated with a one-size-fits-all protocol under stress-heavy conditions.

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What Safer, Trauma-Informed Protocols Look Like in HQHVSN Settings

 

In high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) clinics, anesthesia protocols have evolved to balance safety, efficiency, and individualized care—especially for vulnerable populations like kittens, ferals, and medically complex cats. While Telazol is still used in some combinations, it's typically paired with sedatives and analgesics in well-researched dosages that help mitigate risks when proper monitoring and oxygen are in place.

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Common protocols in well-run HQHVSN clinics include:

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• TTDex (Telazol + Butorphanol + Dexmedetomidine)
  — Used at carefully calibrated doses (0.01–0.035 mL/kg IM)
  — Reversible with Atipamezole; must be monitored closely due to risk of hypoxia in the first 5–8 minutes

• DKB (Dexmedetomidine + Ketamine + Buprenorphine)
  — A widely used injectable combo that allows for smoother sedation and reversal
  — Butorphanol is sometimes substituted when deeper sedation is needed over analgesia

• TKX (Telazol + Ketamine + Xylazine)
  — Common in feral cat programs; less optimal for analgesia but effective when used with care

• Quad Protocol (Ketamine, Midazolam, Buprenorphine, Dexmedetomidine)
  — Used extensively in the UK and growing in U.S. shelters
  — Tailored to the cat’s body surface area for safer dosing

 

Each of these protocols has strengths and considerations—but what they all share in high-quality clinics is proper monitoring, oxygen support, and individual evaluation of each animal’s health and stress status. That’s the standard we want to help elevate across all shelters—not just what’s convenient, but what’s compassionate.

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Why Airway Management and Monitoring Matter

Christopher’s sudden decline happened within minutes of receiving his injection—before surgery even began. According to recent research on shelter medicine, this isn’t uncommon—but it is preventable.

 

Many shelter clinics use injectable anesthesia for speed and convenience. But without proper monitoring or oxygen support, cats are at serious risk of complications like hypoxia (low oxygen), apnea (stopped breathing), and cardiovascular collapse—especially within the first 5–8 minutes of injection.

 

Here’s what experts now recommend:

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The Critical Role of Airway Support

Proper airway management—such as early intubation—can be life-saving. General anesthesia suppresses normal breathing reflexes, and cats are especially vulnerable to airway obstruction and respiratory arrest.

Airway-related complications are one of the leading causes of anesthetic-related deaths in cats—especially during or shortly after surgery. While intubation may not always be required for routine procedures like castration, maintaining a patent airway and having emergency intervention supplies on hand is essential.

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Cats under general anesthesia lose key protective reflexes and are at increased risk for respiratory depression, airway obstruction, and aspiration. This is why organizations like the AAFP and veterinary anesthesiology experts stress the importance of proper airway management protocols, including:

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• Monitoring for signs of respiratory distress or hypoxia

• Keeping oxygen delivery systems immediately accessible

• Intubating when deeper anesthesia or intervention is needed

• Ensuring animals are in well-ventilated, observation-ready areas post-procedure

 

In Christopher’s case, we were told intubation only occurred after he began to crash—by then, his gums had already turned blue and chest compressions were being administered. Whether oxygen was administered promptly remains unclear.

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Why Oxygen Support Is Essential

According to veterinary anesthesiology experts (DVM360)  , all injectable anesthetic protocols—whether for minor or major procedures—cause some degree of respiratory depression. Even when intubation is not used for routine surgeries, oxygen supplementation is still strongly recommended.

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“Regardless of the protocol used, we recommend the administration of 100% oxygen. All anesthetics contribute to hypoventilation and respiratory depression which may lead to hypoxemia when the patient is breathing room air.” – DVM360

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Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood) can develop within minutes of sedative injection—especially when using injectable-only protocols like Telazol or TTDex. In these cases, oxygen by mask or flow-by should be given immediately after administration, and monitoring for breathing changes must begin at once.​

 

The Risk of Hypoxia with TTDex

Studies show that even well-known injectable combos like TTDex (Telazol, Butorphanol, Dexmedetomidine) can cause oxygen deprivation within minutes. These events are oxygen-responsive—meaning they can be resolved with 100% oxygen if it’s provided immediately.

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In Christopher’s case, no oxygen was administered until it was too late. And based on what we know, no monitoring (like a pulse oximeter or heart rate monitor) was in place to catch the signs early.

*We will update this statement when we hear from the president of the Humane Society, we are going only off what we were told by the vet tech.

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Monitoring Is Not Optional

Vital signs like pulse, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color, and blood oxygen levels should be continuously monitored. Affordable monitoring tools now exist—even for shelter settings—and can help catch complications before they become fatal.​​

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Why This Matters in Shelter Medicine

Every cat undergoing anesthesia deserves basic protections: a secure airway, oxygen access, and attentive monitoring. These are not luxuries, they’re lifesaving standards.​

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Spay and neuter programs are essential to reducing overpopulation, and many shelters work tirelessly to provide these services under immense pressure. But even in fast-paced, high-volume clinics, every animal deserves individualized, compassionate care.

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Many cats arriving for surgery are:

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• Young, underweight, or pre-weaned

• Recovering from illness or weakened immune systems

• Feral or semi-feral with high stress levels

• Carrying trauma from neglect, abandonment, or life on the streets

 

These factors make them more sensitive to sedation and anesthesia—and more prone to complications if protocols aren’t carefully chosen.

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That’s why safer, reversible, and well-monitored anesthetic protocols are so important. With proper evaluations, stress-aware handling, and oxygen support, the risk of complications drops significantly—and outcomes improve across the board.

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We’re not advocating for perfection—we’re advocating for progress.
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Every cat deserves a chance to wake up safely. And with the right knowledge, training, and care, we believe shelters can provide both efficiency and safety—without compromise.​​

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Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters

Cats often carry invisible scars—fear of confinement, pain from past neglect, or heightened sensitivity to noise and unfamiliar settings. Yet many shelters are noisy, crowded, and rushed—placing already vulnerable animals under added stress just before surgery.​

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Trauma-informed veterinary care acknowledges this reality. It uses quieter spaces, gentler handling, slower protocols, and safer sedation choices that minimize fear and maximize trust.

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​Shelter medicine can—and must—do better. And through Christopher’s Fund, we aim to raise awareness, promote safer practices, and support clinics and rescues in adopting protocols that prioritize life.

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Your Donation Helps Us:

• Educate pet parents, rescuers, and shelters about high-risk anesthesia drugs and safer alternatives

• Advocate for trauma-informed care and safe, quiet environments in rescue medicine

• Provide financial support for spay/neuter services with individualized protocols and gentle recovery plans

• Cover aftercare, dental, or emergency services for sanctuary cats

• Fund specialized healing training for our caregivers in Fear Free™ handling, Healing Touch for Animals®, and other supportive modalities

• Build a future healing clinic where rescued cats can receive calm, compassionate, faith-aligned care—including a quiet space for homeless cats to recover safely after surgery.

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Help Us Create a New Standard of Care

Christopher’s Fund is more than a tribute. It’s a mission. One rooted in love, loss, and the commitment to ensure that cats like him never have to endure unnecessary fear—or avoidable tragedy—again.

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Christopher’s siblings still search for him. We all do. He had such a big personality—so full of sweetness, mischief, and heart. He went from an alive, energetic, playful kitten to 12 hours later no longer being with us. There’s a hole in our home and in many hearts without him here.

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If his story moves you, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support this fund. Every dollar brings us closer to a future where healing is sacred, and every life is treated with the care it truly deserves—including the ones who never got their second chance.​​​​