Oregon Cat Shot in Neck with Arrow, Survives

The 10 lb. male cat, nicknamed Jack Arrow by OHS staffers, has recovered from what could have been a fatal wound and is now available for adoption.

Jack as found by the Parker family. Photo: Oregon Humane Society

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - They thought he would die.

When the Parker family saw the black and white cat with an arrow through his neck, they thought his chances of surviving were slim.

Maeleah Parker, 16, screamed with fright when she spotted the injured cat in their front yard.

But the Parkers, all cat lovers, decided they would try their best to help the wounded feline, and they succeeded.

The 10 lb. male cat, nicknamed Jack Arrow by OHS staffers, has recovered from what could have been a fatal wound and is now available for adoption from the Oregon Humane Society.

“We hate to see cases of animal cruelty like this, but it happens all too often in the summer months,” said Dr. Kris Otteman, director of shelter medicine for OHS.

Jack’s friendly personality survived the ordeal intact, and he remains energetic and welcoming to people.

“For being is such bad shape when we found him, his spirits were good,” said Maeleah Parker, who found the cat outside the family's home in the central Willamette Valley.

After luring Jack into their home with tuna, the Parkers took him to their family veterinarian and paid for his treatment.

The doctor thought the arrow had been in the cat’s neck for a week to two weeks, as the wound was infested with maggots and the arrow itself, which passed entirely through the cat’s neck, was broken in half. The wound was two inches wide and four inches deep.

Jack spent two weeks at the veterinary hospital and a week recovering at the Parker’s house. The Parkers next brought Jack to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, where they thought he would have the best chance of finding a new home.

“Jack is healing very well and we think he’ll make a great companion for someone,” said Otteman. “Jack doesn't’t require any special medical care, just some attention and affection while he recovers.” OHS expects to find homes for 5,000 cats and kittens this year, many of whom will be ill, injured, or victims of abuse.

The society's new Animal Medical and Learning Center, scheduled to open late this summer, will provide 24-hour medical care for animals like Jack who are waiting to be adopted.

OHS is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for severely harming this cat.

Please contact the OHS Animal Cruelty Hotline, (503) 285-7722, ext. 214