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
In everyone’s life a little rain must fall and now is that time for this sweetheart. Maxwell is very friendly, can be held and cuddled and is a gorgeous orange and white short-haired cat. Maxwell arrived on October 14, 2009, at the approximate age of 15 years. Poor Maxwell has lost most of his teeth but still manages to eat kibble. Maxwell is looking for a place to rest, cuddle and live his remaining years with a family who love him and give him all the attention he wants. Maxwell’s age may cause some trouble in getting him adopted, but I know of a good many cats who live well into their twenties so please don’t let that be a deterent. Maxwell is not fond of other cats and has been known to make that clear to any others that are around him. Maxwell is waiting to meet you at Animal Aide, 333 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, 519-633-3788, or send an email.
Don’t leave him in a cage!
When I first met Patches, November 9, 2007, at the age of 4 months, she had just come from the vet where she was given a check up and spayed. She reminded me so much of a little fairy tale, called the Gingerbread Man. The reason for this is that Patches is a bit frightened of people right now, having been born on the streets. When I look into her sweet, innocent little face, her eyes seem to say – ‘You can’t catch me!’ Fortunately for Patches and her three siblings – Popcorn (now adopted), Pounce and Pepper, they were caught. Now, Patches is safe, even if she doesn’t yet know or feel it. Even luckier for Patches, Animal Aide has had great luck in socializing frightened cats and helping them discover their true potential to be loving pets in a home environment. A little time, love and persistence will win this sweetheart over and she, too, will succumb to a life of not having to fight for everything she gets. Patches can be seen at Animal Aide by calling 519-633-3788, sending us an email inquiry, or visiting our center at 333 Talbot St, St. Thomas.
