UPDATE:
Shortly after a visit to the veterinarian on Dec. 4, Kelsey Holyk decided to euthanize her cat, Smokey.
“Smokey has passed,” reads the GoFundMe page started by Holyk. “He had lots of loved ones around him in his last moments. He was purring lots. I got to lay with him after and have lots of cuddles.
“It was a nice end. Thank you all for your support. We will still be needing some funds to finish off his bills.”
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Smokey, the beloved, rotund tabby cat and fixture of the Oak Bay community has sustained severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.
Kelsey Holyk, Smokey’s owner, shared that her cat did not return home Sunday night (Dec. 1). The following morning, they received the news that Smokey had been hit by a vehicle, and the driver had left the scene.
The injuries include a broken jaw, serious oral trauma, and damage to his eyes and nose. Initially hoping for a speedy recovery, Smokey’s condition turned out to be worse during a follow-up visit to the veterinarian.
“It's not really looking good,” she said. “It looks like we might have to make some hard decisions here. His injuries are a lot more severe than we thought and it's gonna be a lot of money and a lot of pain to keep going.”
“His eye is ruptured, so that would mean removal of his eye. There's a lot more fractures in his jaw and head than [we initially] thought.”
Holyk said she has another vet appointment today (Dec. 4) to discuss Smokey’s condition. She added that she will decide in the following hours whether to proceed with treatments or say a heartfelt goodbye to her beloved feline companion.
Funds are being raised via GoFundMe to cover Smokey’s medical expenses, including surgeries, medications, and recovery supplies. Holyk said that if euthanasia becomes necessary, the money will go toward outstanding vet bills.
Know as an inveterate wanderer, Smokey multiplied visits to local shops like Fairway Market, PharmaSave, COBS Bread, and his favourite, Bosley’s, which earned him the reputation of community darling, Holyk said.
“Everybody loves him in Oak Bay; he's a celebrity as a cat," she said. "I work at the Starbucks in Oak Bay and I get so many customers every day asking me how he is doing and just checking in.”
Holyk even mentioned that Smokey also doubles as a formidable salesman.
“He got his choice of cat trees to sit on [at Bosley’s] and he actually helped sell them because people would come in looking for cat trees and have an advertisement right there,” she said.
When the news of Smokey’s injuries was first announced on Facebook, the hefty tabby received an outpouring of love and well-wishes from the community for his recovery.
“Smokey used to come to the dental office but then he traded us in for Bosley’s and Fairways,” commented Facebook user Karen Leavitt. “I hope he’ll make a full recovery and come back for a visit.”
“Smokey is a super awesome cat,” said user Hilary Van Cuylenborg. “He’s the very friendly fluffy black and white cat who’s come up to you for a pat or a tummy rub. I often see kids walking home from school run over to see him and pet him. He’s very popular. I hope he pulls through.”
“We love Smokey and hope for a full recovery,” added Mike Smyth. “He is the best cat I have ever met!”
For more information on Smokey’s condition or to contribute to his recovery, visit gofundme.com/f/t2besm-smokey
