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. (more…)