Our cats to sponsor
Sorbet
Sorbet was found wandering in the Villeray neighborhood at the end of summer. A kind gentleman took him in when he noticed Sorbet’s thinness and difficulty walking and he contacted us. Upon intake, we discovered that indeed, Sorbet was extremely underweight and suffered from constant diarrhea.
Since his arrival at the shelter, he has had numerous visits to the veterinarian. He is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and hypertension. At one point, he was urgently hospitalized due to a thyroid storm, with his thyroid levels reaching astonishing heights. Additionally, he had a slight liver issue that was treated with Zentonil. Now, his hypertension is well controlled with amlodipine. His thyroid became stable thanks to the Felimazole treatment administered twice daily. Once his levels became acceptable and his weight went up, he was finally able to undergo dental surgery.
For a while, the challenge with Sorbet was to feed him gastrointestinal food for his intestinal health and to reduce diarrhea episodes, even though he didnt’t find it appetizing. Hence, we became masters at mixing it with varieties he liked, without worsening his problems, but his preferences seemed to change regularly. Now, we found a few types of wet food that he loves and that don’t upset his digestive system, notably Oven-Baked Tradition. However, he still needs to eat gastro-intestinal dry food. Sorbet was added to the sponsorship program to cover the costs of his numerous medications and specialized food.
Olga
Olga’s journey began in a difficult environment, found in an apartment with 27 other cats. Our shelter was able to take a dozen of them, while the rest were taken by other shelters. Those 28 little babies were not socialized properly, leading to difficulties in their adjustment to the shelter life. Our socialization team has been working diligently with Olga, and she has shown progress in becoming more comfortable with human interaction.
Olga resides in Gentle Ben’s room and has been dealing with diabetes and chronic rhinitis. She has a freestyle device, a continuous glucose monitoring system that provides crucial data about her glucose levels. This device requires monthly changes and is costly, but it gives Olga a break from the frequent glucose tests on her ears, which can be uncomfortable and lead to bruising due to her sensitive skin. However, the freestyle device can also cause irritation, so we occasionally give her breaks from it to prevent discomfort.
Her medical history includes treatments such as Mometamax and azithromycin for chronic congestion. Recent updates in March indicate ongoing efforts to manage her respiratory issues with Metronidazole and laser therapy to reduce congestion.
Despite these challenges, Olga has shown progress. She has gained weight and is responding well to her diabetes management plan, including insulin administration and regular monitoring of her glucose levels.
Olga’s resilience and unique medical needs have led us to include her in our sponsorship program, where every contribution helps provide the specialized care and attention she deserves.
Help us by sponsoring a cat
Byba
Byba is a black and white cat that arrived at the shelter as a kitten at only 8 months old. He was already suffering from dental pain. In an effort to address his stomatitis, he underwent a complete dental extraction before he turned one. The stomatitis improved for a while after the procedure, but it has intensified again in the last 18 months. We’ve taken him to the vet multiple times, and although he received therapeutic laser treatment to alleviate inflammation, nothing provides long-term relief. It’s now necessary to put him on permanent medication so he can finally enjoy life pain-free. However, this treatment is expensive.
So, what is stomatitis? It’s an autoimmune disease that affects a cat’s gums and oral mucosa, causing them to become bright red and severely inflamed. In the most severe cases, the pain can be so overwhelming that the cat cannot eat. For Byba, during the worst phases of his condition, his gums become so inflamed that they bleed upon contact.
Byba is a lovely, shy cat. It’s easy to see how living with constant pain hinders his ability to socialize. Fortunately, he has some feline friends who are always eager to cuddle with him.
Anatole
Anatole came to the shelter due to a case of mistaken identity. Volunteers were searching for a ginger cat named Antchuk in Anjou. Someone called in to report that she had found the cat and brought him into her home. However, upon seeing the ginger cat, we realized it wasn’t the one we were looking for, but Anatole still needed help. So, we brought him back to the shelter. Anatole had a minor limp, prompting a visit to the vet for X-rays and additional tests. The veterinarian discovered multiple micro-fractures in his pelvis that had healed incorrectly. It was suspected that he’d been hit by a car.
Unfortunately, there was no treatment possible since the injury was old, and the pelvis wasn’t perfectly aligned; we could only hope it wouldn’t cause him significant issues down the line. Some time later, Anatole began to move from litter box to litter box without using them. Concerned about a potential urinary blockage, we swiftly took him to the vet. While there was no blockage, he was severely constipated and required a three-day hospital stay with multiple enemas. Once back at the shelter, he seemed fine, but two weeks later, he experienced another bout of constipation.
Each significant episode heightens his risk of developing megacolon. To avert this, Anatole is now on two different laxatives and a medication to enhance intestinal motility. He will need to continue these medications for life and have regular vet visits to keep his condition managed.
Anatole is a fairly solitary cat. While he isn’t particularly fond of people, he does have a few favorites among them. Some of the volunteers pet and even groom him, which he doesn’t mind too much. He isn’t the most sociable cat; he puts up with other cats, but none have truly captured his heart. Sometimes, he can be seen napping alongside Cadbury or Biscotte. Despite his somewhat tough demeanor, he has a loyal following of shelter volunteers who dream of the day they can pet the majestic Anatole.
Help us by sponsoring a cat
Balthazar
Balthazar arrived at the shelter in November 2019 with his brother Melchior, both 8-year-old, following the death of their owner. They were adopted separately soon after. Unfortunately, in October 2021, Balthazar’s adoptive parent contacted us to take him back, having worsening health issues, and preventing him from taking proper care of his cat.
We therefore welcome him back to the shelter. After a visit to the vet, we found out that he had cataracts in both eyes and that he had a urinary tract infection. The vet told us that there was nothing to do for the cataracts, and Balthazar was put on antibiotic treatment for his urinary tract infection.
During his follow-up for the UTI (which healed well), it was discovered that Balthazar was diabetic. It is therefore now necessary to take his blood sugar twice a day and give him 1 unit of insulin when his blood sugar is above 15.
Balthazar has lived a lot over the past two years, and we wish to find him a family to take care of him, but we know it will be a challenge. In order to provide him with the treatments and follow-ups he needs, we need support, which is why he has been added to the sponsorship program.
Mystery cat
The sponsorship program was established to support the veterinary expenses of cats with chronic illnesses and lower chances of adoption. For those of you who cannot choose from our adorable residents, the Mystery Cat is here for you.
If you decide to sponsor the mystery cat, you will receive updates and photos of a cat rescued from the shelter whose health condition requires significant veterinary care. You can follow its progress until complete recovery. Once healed, a new cat will take over as the mystery cat.