Munchie was abandoned in the worst possible way. She was found inside a small cardboard box with the top flaps folded up tight and placed where no one could be expected to find her. But, someone did – someone who knew us.
We got the call, picked her up and took her straight to the veterinarian. She was initially described to us as a small kitten. She was small – barely over a pound – but she wasn't a kitten. Her teeth revealed she was at least a year old. Her case was completely baffling, which meant we had a lot of eyes looking at her. The veterinarians crowded around, studying her and her blood work. It showed all kinds of problems including failing organs. The consensus was she had a metabolic disorder that stunted her growth, affected her organs, caused her to lose her fur and was now taking her life.
She seemed awfully bright to me, especially for a cat who was dying. “What if she’s just been in the box a long time?” The vets stared at me. Even if she’d been deprived of food – which could explain many of the blood results – how could she survive without water? Was her bald pattern from stress? Or disease? Was this a case of abandonment? None of us could come up with a narrative that accounted for her survival. I had a dark thought – was someone giving her enough water to keep her alive…barely. Was this torture? It was too awful to contemplate even though we know things like this happen.
But…she was alive and showing signs she’d like to stay that way. So, we had her admitted to the hospital, started treating the symptoms and waited to see what happened.
What happened was – she survived and thrived. A few months later she was a normal-sized
cat, with a lush coat of fur, and excellent blood work. She showed no sign of the trauma she had been through, physically or emotionally. She turned into a head-butting purr-monster who loved to be cuddled. We named her “Munchie” because she LOVED her food!
She had gone home with a veterinary nurse who cared for her and had a doggy sibling. She was safe and happy and loved. But, life can throw anyone a curve, and her human mom had some changes in circumstances that meant she had to give Munchie back to us. Our original intention was for Munchie to stay with us until her mom could take her back, but that day didn’t come. She has stayed with us ever since, safe, happy and loved.
We know she would love to have her own person again, and we are willing to let her go to the right home. Because of her history, she would be a “permanent foster” which means we would retain “ownership” of her. You would provide care and love her; we would retain the right to determine any veterinary decisions (and costs), including euthanasia, should that day come. Rest assured, our policy is to involve the foster every step of the way. Currently, she is healthy but has a history of urinary crystals so she needs to be on special food to stay problem free. And, the foster would need to be in the SF Bay Area.
Комментарии