March 2024

Inside this issue:

• Join us on Saturday, April 13th for our Senior Prom!
• The Heartbreaking Journey of an 8-Year-Old Declawed Cat:  Lost Homes and Lingering Pain
• Help Peeping Tom - the resilient 10-year-old cat that needs eye surgery (and a home)!
• Hamish (formerly known as Flemish), is ready for a home

Join us on Saturday, April 13th from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM for our Senior Prom!

This adoption event, held at our beautiful, home-like sanctuary at 34 Hamilton Avenue in Oyster Bay, features a festive atmosphere, and highlights our Seniors for Seniors program (where we cover the reasonable future medical expenses at participating veterinarians for a senior cat 8 years old or older adopted by an approved senior citizen). Cats of all ages will be up for adoption.

The health and mental benefits of having animals as companions are well known.  The Patricia H. Ladew Foundation's Seniors for Seniors program circumvents some of the worries that older folks may have when adopting an older animal -- affording the medical care and what happens to the cat if something happens to them?

Our Seniors for Seniors program pays for the medical care, alleviating the financial burden associated with senior kitties and if something happens to the adopter, the kitty can safely return to us for care.  

Dr. Susan's mom, Lillian, and her senior kitty, Barney

Not looking to adopt? All are welcome for a tour (and snuggles from kitties!)

In addition to tours, visitors may wish to sponsor a cat to help us continue to provide housing and medical care for cats in our care. Sponsors will receive a hand-painted ornament with your sponsoree's name (or your own cat's name if preferred).

This isn’t just a prom — it’s a celebration of love, compassion, and the joy that senior cats bring. Let the whiskers twirl, the tails sway, and the hearts melt at our Senior Prom! 

The Heartbreaking Journey of an 8-Year Old Declawed Cat:  Lost Homes and Lingering Pain

Desmond

Meet Desmond, an 8-year-old declawed cat whose life journey has been marked by abandonment and unspoken suffering.  Desmond's story sheds light on the often-overlooked consequences of declawing and the profound impact it can have on a cat's well-being.

Desmond's tale begins with good intentions.  Eight years ago, he was adopted by a loving family who believed that declawing was a routine procedure, unaware of its long-term effects.  Like many others, they saw declawing as a solution to prevent scratching and assumed it would have minimal consequences, if any, for their believed pet.

However, as Desmond grew, the repercussions of declawing became apparent.  Desmond began to exhibit signs of distress which led to him no longer using the litter box and becoming aggressive (likely because he was in pain).  

Desmond was returned to our friends at PuppyKittyNYC, but his journey didn't end there.  Desmond would be adopted out two more times and returned for the same issues.  He was brought to multiple veterinarians for evaluation, but not one of them looked at his paws as a source of the problem.

Meagan Licari from PuppyKittyNYC had heard about cats having bone fragments left behind from declaw surgeries and wondered if that could be Desmond's problem.  Meagan brought him to see Paw Project veterinarian, Dr. Michal Hess, of Glendale Veterinary Clinic, where she discovered the real problem.  Desmond had spent years of his life, walking on remnants of bone left behind from the original declaw surgery.  

Remnants of bones left behind from declawing

Through donations from The Paw Project, Desmond had surgery to salvage his paws and remove the bones left behind. Following surgery,  he was transferred to us for care while healing and then to find him a home.

Despite the turmoil that Desmond went through, there is hope.  Desmond's story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of informed decisions and empathy towards our feline companions.  It underscores the need for alternatives to declawing and the responsibility we bear as caretakers to prioritize the well-being of our pets above convenience.

As Desmond awaits his forever home, his resilient spirit endures.  His journey speaks not only to the plight of declawed cats, but also the capacity for compassion and understanding within our communities.  With awareness and advocacy, we can strive to create a world where cats like Desmond are cherished and their pain is recognized, acknowledged and treated.

Let us heed Desmond's silent plea - to be seen, to be heard and to be loved, not in spite of his imperfections, but because of them.  In his vulnerability lies a profound lesson - that true compassion knows no bounds and that every life no matter how small, deserves dignity and care.  

We don't yet know if Desmond's symptoms will be completely alleviated by his surgery.  We can't replace the bones that were originally amputated but we can recognize and try to manage his pain if the signs continue. 

If you would like to help Desmond, please consider sponsoring or adopting him. And please, do not declaw.  

This Peeping Tom Needs Eye Surgery

10-year-old Tom has lived in one home since he was a kitten.  A few weeks ago, his family moved to a non-pet-friendly apartment and relinquished Tom to Animal Care Centers in Brooklyn.

As if losing is home wasn't enough, while at the shelter, Tom came down with a bilateral eye infection, something that cats commonly get, especially after being in a big shelter.  But while most cats respond to treatment in a few days, Tom wasn't getting any better on eye medications.  On further inspection, Dr. Susan saw that Tom's problem wasn't just an eye infection, he was afflicted with something more serious -- a condition called entropion, where the eyelids roll in towards the eyes, causing the lashes to rub constantly on his corneas.

Tom's lashes constantly rub against his eyes

Now, Tom faces a bigger challenge than losing his home, he needs urgent eye surgery to improve his vision and his quality of life.

Together, we can make a difference in Tom's life.  Your donations will go towards covering the cost of his eye surgery and finding him a safe and loving forever home.  Every dollar counts, and every act of kindness brings us one step closer to giving Tom the life he deserves.  Please donate to our Emergency Fund to help Tom.  

Hamish, (The Cat Formerly Named Flemish), Gets a New Name Along With a Second Chance

Hamish (formerly known as Flemish)

You may remember him as Flemish, but now that the “Flem” (phlegm) is gone from his life-threatening upper respiratory infection, we’ve renamed him Hamish in recognition of his happily hammy personality. 

Hamish was discovered abandoned on the streets by diligent police officers, who brought him to  Animal Care Centers (ACC).  While at ACC, Hamish developed an upper respiratory virus which  caused his health to deteriorate to the point of needing a feeding tube for survival.

Transferred immediately to us, with the help of Dr. Lynn Santora at New Hyde Park Animal Hospital, a feeding tube was placed and Hamish slowly began to respond.

Through unwavering care and dedication, Hamish battled back to health.  Now he's seeking a loving home where he can thrive and be cherished.  

Will you be the one that gives Hamish the second chance he deserves?