Meet Three Amazing Cats and Their Amazing Caregivers
Here are the stories of three amazing foster kitties and their incredible foster families. Meet Mara, Bellflower and Momo! Mara (the super-shy one) Some of you may remember Mara from the December 2020 newsletter, which described how her foster mother was working to overcome Mara’s extreme shyness. Mara  was a long-term foster cat that required a great deal of patience as she learned to trust people. One of a litter of four, living in a home with many other felines, Mara got along well with the other cats but was timid around people. Although her siblings were adopted quickly, Mara was not. However, PAWS volunteers never give up. When space became available, Mara moved to another foster home where she could get a lot of personal attention.  With much patience and perseverance, her foster mother taught her that she could trust people, and Mara was eventually ready for a permanent home.In January 2022, after six years in foster care, Mara found her forever home with the perfect adopter. Now known as Victoria, she lives like a queen! She has the run of the house, plenty of hiding spots, love, and affection. She is warming up to her new people and her new home. May she have a long reign.
Bellflower (a long-term outdoor kitty)  Bellflower is a 10-year-old beauty who was found living under a shed. A local resident contacted PAWS because she was concerned that the cat was injured. PAWS immediately responded to the request for help, but it took quite a few attempts to finally capture her and get her to the vet. Upon initial examination, it was clear she needed immediate medical care: her fur was badly matted, her eye was severely infected, and she had several other health issues. Fortunately, the vet was able to fit Bellflower into the next day’s surgery schedule. Bellflower's infected eye was so bad that it had to be removed. Most of her toenails, on both feet, were deeply embedded and need to be extracted. Her feet and toes were treated, and her badly matted fur was shaved. Bellflower continues to receive excellent care and lots of attention.  Her foster mom is very busy making sure that Bellflower’s toes are soaked in Epsom salt three times a day, and 
she gets warm compresses to help her eye heal. Although she is scared, Bellflower tolerates her treatment well, eats voraciously, and allows petting.
It will take a few months of intense foster care before Bellflower will be ready for adoption, but her fur is already starting to grow back, and it is clear she will be a sweet, sought-after beauty. Just wait and see! Momo (plagued with multiple health issues)  Momo, a pretty 6-year-old brown tiger, is the most challenging of our three featured kitties. She was surrendered because her owner was moving and couldn't take the cat with her. We were told that she has had allergies since she was two years old and developed skin issues that were so uncomfortable that she would chew at her itchy skin, causing open sores. Allergy shots and wearing an Elizabethan collar (pet cone) did not help. When Momo came to her PAWS foster home, she had an open sore on her back, at the base of her tail, and had lost considerable weight.Probably due to her discomfort and the stress of a new environment, Momo could also be quite aggressive. Fortunately, a ThunderShirt, which is a soft, fitted jacket that applies gentle, constant pressure that has a calming effect on most cats, works well for Momo. Thus, it is a bit easier for Momo’s foster mom to manage Momo’s daily treatments and syringe feeding (since Momo is too stressed to eat on her own).
 After additional observation, our vet diagnosed Momo with “one of the worst cases of feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS)” that she has seen. FHS is an obscure cat disorder that affects the skin and the nervous and neuromuscular systems, resulting in intense biting or licking of the back, tail, and pelvic limbs. With this diagnosis, Momo now has medication that can help calm her itchiness and give her a chance to heal.  Although Momo is having a difficult time dealing with this disorder, while, at the same time adjusting to her new living environment, she has a foster mom who is experienced, patient, willing, and able to provide the daily attention that Momo needs. Between the medical advice of our vets and the foster mom’s knowledge and perseverance, Momo is receiving top-notch care.Thank you to all our devoted PAWS foster families!
Our success in managing challenging felines such as Mara, Bellflower, and Momo, is a testament to our fosters’ skill and commitment to animal welfare. PAWS is very grateful for all the dedicated foster volunteers who care for our cats every day,
giving them a chance to live the best life possible. |