What is a ‘Special Needs’ cat?
A cat may become a “special needs” cat for a variety of reasons.
They may have on-going medical problems such as a runny eye or a persistent cold. They may require a special diet to aid with digestive problems. This takes a special kind of adopter to be able deal with constant eye drops, coughing or sneezing.
Special Needs may mean they are deaf or blind. While this may seem like a big issue, most cats learn to live very well without their eyesight or their hearing. For a look at how well this can work out, please check out Wonder on our Happy Endings page.
They may require a special diet to aid with digestive problems. Careful attention will need to be paid to the kinds of foods they eat and the treats they are given.
Sometimes a cat is in our special needs category simply because everyone has passed them by. There may be nothing needy about the cat, except for his/her desire to get out of their cage permanently. It may be a cat that just simply doesn’t show well in their cage. Often cats don’t become accustomed to being in a cage, and therefore, they are not at their best. This can cause them to lie in their cages and ignore prospective adopters, or cause them to appear angry or hissy. These cats are totally different when they have their playtime, but this is not seen by people looking to adopt.
This could also mean that the cat is older than most people are looking for. They are quieter and less active but still deserve a home where they are safe and loved. Older does not mean that they don’t deserve a happy home for the rest of their days. Unfortunately, for a cat, older merely means that they are over the age of 5 years. Occasionally, we have a cat that is over 10 years, and, rarer still, over 15 years. These cats deserve a permanent home to live out their lives with dignity and true love.
A “special needs” cat may have grown up feral (wild) on the streets. These cats require lots of patience, time, and special handling. Also, a “special needs” cat may have been abused, either on the streets or by a former owner. These cats also require an expertise not needed for every cat. There is no better feeling than gaining the trust of a formally abused or feral cat. It is a very humbling experience and in the end it is the adopter that is truly “special”.
Many of our special needs cats are black. These poor felines have probably been chased, used as targets; beaten and abused only because of the ridiculous superstition that all black cats are bad luck. It is our experience at Animal Aide that most black cats are actually very loving and have incredibly beautiful, glossy fur and best of all; they look magnificent in any decor!!
And some only have a bigger personality than others (some humans would call it attitude). But the cats think they are just more important than the humans around them and will let you know when they want attention and when they don’t..thank you very much!!
Many things must be taken into consideration when adopting any cat but please don’t base your decision solely on the colour of their fur or the fact that they may not immediately want to be picked up. Keep an open mind!!! And remember, its purrsonality that counts and all of our special needs cats have a personality all their own. They may need more care and love then other cats. They may rely on you more than expected, but please don’t pass them by. Our volunteers truly know they are all SPECIAL and the reward of the heart cannot be measured in words.
Please come and meet our “Special Needs” cats and see how quickly they will tug at YOUR heart!!!