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. » Continue Reading

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Please check out our list of cats available for this program. There are many to choose from, from cats that are a little older, to cats that are nervous and shy. All of these animals just need a chance to be in a loving home. Can you help?

Animal Aide’s story writing team comprises 2 people. Every week we divide up the new cats and write the stories for the website. Some weeks there are more stories to write than others. The week that Africa came in was one of those busy weeks. He was not on my list. Africa has been at the shelter since July 3, 09, and it wasn’t until 2 weeks ago that I realized just how fabulous Africa is. Africa had gotten a bit of a cold and had to be separated from the rest. I have since learned a few new things about Africa. I already knew that he is a big beautiful, black cat. I already knew that he loved attention but I didn’t know just how cuddly he is. The big surprise, however, is that Africa is a polydactyl. Yes….he has extra toes on, not 2 feet but 3 feet. We have had them with extra toes on 2 feet and even a couple with extra on all 4 feet but I don’t think we have ever had one like Africa. Being black, Africa tends to get overlooked, but he is now at the top of my list of fabulous cats that I recommend to potential adopters. So, when choosing a long-time companion…don’t overlook the black ones!!! You could be missing out on someone great. 333 Talbot St, St. Thomas, give us a call at 519-633-3788 or send us an email.

YOU COULD HAVE PAL FOR LIFE