“Oh, you poor thing!”
A white kitten brought into our lobby was not looking good. She was skinny, shivering, and had severe urine scalding on her tiny hind legs. That’s a lot for a tiny body to handle.
To give her more fighting power, our Wellness Team named her Lyssa, after the goddess of rage.
Lyssa was just 4 weeks old. We hoped that proper nutrition paired with antibiotics would help her heal. But she was plagued with stomach upset and not interested in food. Was it too late to help her? The team switched to syringe feedings. Finally, after a few days, we saw the light in the kitten’s eyes. Lyssa’s fighting spirit was on!
She would need it.
See, Lyssa’s rear legs were not working. She may have been born that way or perhaps experienced some trauma. But, from her hips down, Lyssa had no feeling.
She was not the first paraplegic cat in our program. Years earlier, a black kitty girl named Lisa lived at the shelter until she found a wonderful home. It takes a very special adopter, dedicated to a higher level of care, like expressing the cat’s bladder, changing diapers, and frequent baths. Few adopters want that.
Once Lyssa regained her health, she started showing her true colors! If there was a cat tree, she would climb it, if the door was slightly ajar, she would sneak out to explore the hallway. She was mischievous and affectionate, enjoying the company of humans and other cats.
Lyssa became a shelter mascot, loved, and cared for by our team. Curious and social, she sported outfits and attended events. We just knew that someone would open their heart to our little survivor. But, how long would she have to wait?
The answer: 525 days!
Last Saturday, Lyssa left the shelter. After many conversations with the adopters, we knew they were the perfect home for Lyssa – ready to shower her with love and provide a safe and caring place. Yes, there were goodbye tears. But Lyssa was ready for her next adventure. Together with her new dad, she headed for the airport where they boarded a plane to Connecticut. There, she would meet the rest of the family, including feline siblings.
Have a wonderful life, sweet girl!
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