We'll never know how long poor Ging waited in agonising pain before help finally arrived.
In July this year, the 5-year-old was spotted in Taperoo with a limp so bad he could barely walk.
RSPCA Rescue Officer Brigitte rushed to save the beautiful ginger tabby, transporting him to our Lonsdale shelter via Animal Ambulance for emergency treatment.
Things weren't looking good.
But like so many, this story does have a happy ending - we are delighted to say that Ging (now named Rush) is no longer in pain and loves life in his forever home as a three-legged little trooper!
Thanks to the generosity of animal lovers in SA, Rush receives emergency surgery to end his pain
Our veterinary team quickly determined that Rush had somehow fractured his left hind leg.
A deep laceration through one of Rush's toes led our vets to suspect that the poor boy may have been caught in a metal fence, and then fractured his leg trying to escape.
Unfortunately, the dreadful state of muscles in Rush's injured leg indicated that he'd been suffering without treatment for several days.
It was too late to save Rush's leg - but it wasn't too late to save his life.
To relieve Rush of the agony he'd been in for so many days, our vets carefully amputated his badly fractured leg and put him on a course of pain relief and antibiotics.
Rush's road to recovery wasn't easy, but our vets were determined to care for the tough kitty as long as it took - so we asked for your help to cover the costs of his surgery and rehabilitation.
The tabby trooper's story struck a cord with so many, and compassionate members of the community donated an incredible $1,246 to his cause.
A new beginning was right around the corner.
Affectionate Rush wins the heart of new family due to his gentle and adoring nature with babies
When Katie and her husband first visited our Lonsdale shelter with their two young daughters, they actually weren't looking to adopt a cat. The animal-loving family were still devastated at the loss of their beloved feline Mim the year before.
"I'd given up hope that we would ever find another cat as gentle and adoring of babies as Mim," Katie tells us.
Walking past Rush at the shelter, Katie says the beautiful kitty started purring his heart out just at the sight of her 16-month-old and 3-year-old daughters. Not only were the girls welcome to hop into Rush's cage, but he seemed even more excited to meet them.
"My youngest climbed under his step into his hidey hole, and he followed her in and curled up purring. I couldn't believe it!" Katie says.
"Not only was he not afraid of toddlers, but he seemed to actually adore them! It was meant to be."
In days filled with endless giggles and cuddles, Rush has adapted to life with three legs and now moves 'like a flash'
It seems that having three legs doesn't bother Rush at all. Living up to his new name, Katie tells us that the clever kitty now moves "like a flash across the room to catch a toy".
Very much loved by his new family, Rush's days are filled with the giggles of his baby sisters and absolute cuddles galore.
And it's all thanks to the generosity of those who donated to Rush's cause.
"Not only did you ensure a better life for him, but also for us who are lucky enough to have him in our life," Katie says.
"I promise he will never be lonely in this household!"
Thank you Katie, and thank you to all our supporters.
From the bottom of our hearts, we're so grateful to all our supporters who made Rush's new life with Katie and her family a reality. If you'd like to continue helping animals just like Rush, head over here to see our current emergency appeals.
