A few weeks ago we were contacted by Paws Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Fort Kent asking if we could help them with two cats. One was leukemia positive and the other has feline AIDS. We agreed to take both so they wouldn’t have to live out their days in a cage.
Eve, the feline with AIDS, was rescued from the streets in Fort Kent and she was in very rough shape. PAWS staff nursed her back to health. Eve is missing most of one ear. You look into her eyes and you see a cat with a very sad story. She wants to trust but she is just so scared. She never offers to bite or scratch, she never hisses; she just tries to melt into the wall. She loves all of the other AIDS cats she shares a room with, but humans are a challenge for her. Every morning and every night I lift up the blankets she hides under and I scratch her ear and pet her head and tell her that life will get better. She just looks at me. There are no purrs, but I am sure that will come with time — and we have plenty of time.
Eve is one of the new arrivals at the Ark Animal Sanctuary.
(Courtesy of Lorraine Monfils)
Petoute, the sweet leukemia cat, is absolutely gorgeous. She has personality plus and loves attention. She can’t seem to get enough. Petoute is a young cat and we are hoping to give her many years full of love and whatever she needs. She has a roommate named Sylvester, who is also leukemia-positive. Sylvester lost his best friend DeeDee a few weeks ago and has mourned her loss every day. His personality and behaviors totally changed. We are hoping Petoute will mend his broken heart and he will once again be the Sylvester we all love.
We are very proud of the work we do with special needs cats such as those with AIDS, leukemia and other health problems, as well as feral cats. We are a place those cats can come to and live out their days. It’s a place that is cage free, where the cats have access to enclosed outdoor spaces, and a place that they can call home.
We learn from all the cats that pass through our doors. They educate us on their medical conditions. We fall in love with them and our hearts get broken more times than not. In the end they make us better people.
Thank you for your continued support, and as always, thank you for reading our column.
