From time to time, Kindred Kitties takes in a cat that needs extra special attention.  This might include a special diet, ongoing medication, care for a permanent condition, sociability issues, or sometimes, just old age.   Jacob was one such cat.  He had lived with an elderly man when he was diagnosed with diabetes.  He not only needed insulin therapy and a special diet to get his condition under control; he was also over 10 years old!  Jacob was in fo ster care for over two years and was making some progress, but his diabetes proved difficult to control.

We posted Jacob on Petfinder with the hopes of finding a family who would be willing to adopt Jacob and take care of his special needs.   We found one!!!  Michele and Eric of Pleasant Prairie learned of Jacob while searching the the Internet. They had recently lost their elderly cat to diabetes.  Because of their experiences, they were actually seeking another special needs cat.  Jacob is now a part of their family and is doing very well!

Although challenging, there is also great reward in taking on a special needs cat.  For these wonderful cats, finding a forever home where they will be understood and well-cared for is like being rescued twice!   Currently, Kindred Kitties is caring for a number of cats that we consider to have special needs.  There is Jingles, an older tabby female who will take many, many months to adjust to a new environment; we have G’Anna, a calico who lost her leg but has not yet lost her fear of people; Chilly is a long-haired black/white male who has tested positive for FIV; Lucy is a gray/white manx (bobtail) who will need laxatives and special attention for the rest of her life because she gets constipated; Winter Frost is a 10-12 year old white female who would be happiest in a home with no other cats; and then there are cats like Mobi’Le, Leo, Bailey, Gilbert, Saturn, Lenore,  who are “scaredy cats” looking for a place to live where they can be loved and well-cared for and still just be themselves (and even possibly, over time, becoming relaxed and loyal companions).