Nona arrived at CSC in the spring of 2013. She was brought in by a very distressed person who had found her in an abandoned live trap. Although he couldn't be certain, he said he had seen an official looking group setting traps in the neighbourhood a couple of weeks earlier. He thought that the trap he found Nona in was one of theirs.
It was easy to believe that Nona had been in that trap for 2 weeks, without food or water. She was absolutely emaciated. Her eyes were sunken. She was listless. Her fur was dull and matted. Nona was waiting to die.
For the first few weeks, Nona would not eat on her own. She ignored food put in front of her. We had to feed her from a spoon held up to her mouth. This had to be done several times each day, until she started to eat on her own.
Once she started to eat, the challenge was to get Nona to respond to people. Her experience had left her emotionally shut down. She didn't hiss or swat at anyone, but no one could touch her. For months, Nona would stay in her bed except to eat and use her litter box. She wouldn't come out of her cage, even if the door was left open.
Slowly, after many months, Nona started to allow a few people to touch her. Gentle stroking, at first, then ear scratches, then belly rubs. She still wouldn't come out of her cage, but would purr when a select few spent time with her.
Now, after almost 4 years in our care, Nona is in a foster home, learning to live as a pet. Not because there wasn't a foster home available, rather, because she was not ready for one. Sending her too soon would have stalled her progress, and meant a longer journey.
At some point Nona will be ready for adoption. When that day comes, we will find the right home for her. Until then, she has the best we can give her. The timeline is hers, not ours.
Over the past 10 years CSC has cared for hundreds of special cats like Nona. Each has a story that might break your heart. Some of those stories don't end happily, but all of our special cats get all the time they need to give them a chance at a happy ending.
Care like this is expensive -- not because the cats are sick, but because they are with us for as long as they need to be. In Nona's case, the cost of 4 years of care is almost $5,000. That's a lot of money to put out for one cat, but we think she's worth it. The question is, do you? You can help provide care for Nona and cats like her, by participating in our Whisker Walk -- sign up to walk and raise pledges, join a team, sponsor one of our walkers, or make a donation to the cause. However you choose to help, it will make a difference for Nona and many other cats.
It was easy to believe that Nona had been in that trap for 2 weeks, without food or water. She was absolutely emaciated. Her eyes were sunken. She was listless. Her fur was dull and matted. Nona was waiting to die.
For the first few weeks, Nona would not eat on her own. She ignored food put in front of her. We had to feed her from a spoon held up to her mouth. This had to be done several times each day, until she started to eat on her own.
Once she started to eat, the challenge was to get Nona to respond to people. Her experience had left her emotionally shut down. She didn't hiss or swat at anyone, but no one could touch her. For months, Nona would stay in her bed except to eat and use her litter box. She wouldn't come out of her cage, even if the door was left open.
Slowly, after many months, Nona started to allow a few people to touch her. Gentle stroking, at first, then ear scratches, then belly rubs. She still wouldn't come out of her cage, but would purr when a select few spent time with her.
Now, after almost 4 years in our care, Nona is in a foster home, learning to live as a pet. Not because there wasn't a foster home available, rather, because she was not ready for one. Sending her too soon would have stalled her progress, and meant a longer journey.
At some point Nona will be ready for adoption. When that day comes, we will find the right home for her. Until then, she has the best we can give her. The timeline is hers, not ours.
Over the past 10 years CSC has cared for hundreds of special cats like Nona. Each has a story that might break your heart. Some of those stories don't end happily, but all of our special cats get all the time they need to give them a chance at a happy ending.
Care like this is expensive -- not because the cats are sick, but because they are with us for as long as they need to be. In Nona's case, the cost of 4 years of care is almost $5,000. That's a lot of money to put out for one cat, but we think she's worth it. The question is, do you? You can help provide care for Nona and cats like her, by participating in our Whisker Walk -- sign up to walk and raise pledges, join a team, sponsor one of our walkers, or make a donation to the cause. However you choose to help, it will make a difference for Nona and many other cats.
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