A 2023 End of Year Update
As the year draws to a close, we would like to share updates on some wonderful cats that may be familiar to you. Each of their stories is a testament to the profound difference your kindness has made. These inspiring tales are a celebration of the impact we can make together in changing their lives.
Em & Emmet: Mother & Son
Em joined HART in March 2023 after transferring from a shelter in Maine. Despite being less than a year old, something seemed unusual - she had a noticeably round and heavy belly. It was soon revealed that Em was expecting. Just a month later, in a HART foster home, Emmet came into the world. The close bond between Em and Emmet was evident from the beginning, and they were adopted together into their forever home in June 2023.
Dominic & Bruce: Together Forever!
Dominic came to HART in 2022 and quickly took on the role of “cool uncle” among the other cats in his room, and became a comforting and reassuring presence as well as a gentle disciplinarian for the younger cats. Our volunteers walked in on many heartwarming moments of Dominic snuggling up with other kitties, including the shy ones who benefited from having him as a buddy. For quite some time though, many of his feline friends were adopted, leaving Dominic alone. We believe he felt the separation, because he would seem a little down after a friend was adopted and before he had a chance to make a new one. But then Bruce came into Dominic’s life! A young boy, Bruce was quite scared when he arrived and also had juvenile gingivitis, which ultimately required expensive treatment and removal of most of his teeth. Being so young and having to endure an uncomfortable dental procedure, Bruce was the perfect choice as Dominic's new charge. He quickly warmed up to “Uncle Dom” whose influential and encouraging presence helped Bruce to flourish in Room 2. This past summer, a caring adopter named Heather, who saw the deep bond between these two cats, decided to adopt both of them. After spending over a year at HART, Dominic was finally given a forever home with one of his besties! Heather reports that “after about three weeks, Dominic and Bruce came out of their shell, acclimating to their new home, and are still great friends, playing and rolling around throughout the day and night. They both love the fleece fishing rod, and Dominic is an expert hacky sack player! Dominic’s favorite perch is a window seat where he watches our bird feeders. Bruce loves the cat tree and the top of the sofa.”
Endora’s Story
At HART, some residents have been with us for extended stays, partly due to their more complex medical needs or even their age. HART cares for these cats for as long as required and sometimes their entire lives. Endora has been with HART since November of 2022. She is a beautiful, 12-year-old girl who transferred to us from Friends of Feral Felines in Portland. Their skilled volunteers were able to successfully trap her and ensure that she could get the medical care she required. Upon arrival, it was clear that Endora had an old but significant injury to her left rear leg, and we believe that she may have been struck by a car at some point in her life. Due to the extent of the damage, her leg required surgical amputation. She underwent this surgery last December and has recovered very well. Since her recovery, Endora has become accustomed to balancing and walking with three legs and also received lots of one-on-one time with our Shy Angels Socialization Team. We were so pleased to see this once shy and somewhat apprehensive cat blossom into a more social, happy gal who actively seeks out attention and pets from people and interacts with the other cats in her room. She also enjoys snuggling up in cozy beds that make her feel comfy and secure. During the time that Endora has been with HART, we estimate that it has cost $2,925 for her initial medical care and $3,037 for her food and other daily care. In addition to her physical challenges, Endora was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. To her misfortune, she was one of the rare cats who experiences adverse reactions from the typical medication used for this condition. Fortunately, Endora was a suitable candidate for an expensive radioactive iodine treatment, which costs $1,870. She received this life-changing treatment this past summer, and her hyperthyoridism was successfully cured. Since her treatment, Endora has been flourishing in a loving foster home. She has developed a deep bond with her foster mom. Endora enjoys following her closely, craving the comfort and security of a proper home. It is abundantly clear that Endora has left her days of living on the streets behind and is now yearning for a forever home where she can both give and receive the love she so rightfully deserves.
Hunter & Krystal: Reunited And It Feels So Good!
This July, an officer with Cumberland Animal Control came to HART with a handsome and friendly tabby boy found by residents of Hillcrest Drive in Cumberland. Upon intake, we named him Christopher, after the kind officer who brought him to us. When cats arrive at HART this way, we do all we can to reunite them with their humans, posting on our social channels and tapping into the Maine Lost Cat Recovery network. If they aren’t already, we microchip and spay/neuter them, and get them up-to-date on their vaccinations. Happily, within three weeks of arriving at HART, Christopher, who we came to find out is actually named Hunter, was reunited with his owner, Krystal, of Dragonflower Ranch in Yarmouth, where Hunter is their beloved barn cat. Hunter, or Mr. Dragonflower as Krystal calls him, is not just a barn cat but also a cherished member of their family. According to Krystal, “When he went missing, we thought he must just be out on an adventure, as his wild side has always been apparent. His overwhelmingly loving, cuddly personality sometimes comes as a surprise to many, as his piercing blue-green eyes, and Maine Coon descent, create a mysterious stature…” They posted on local social media pages and had several people keeping an eye out for him. After a month, Krystal and her kids started to think he could be gone forever, but not willing to give up, they posted one last time. Later that day, Krystal’s barn hand said that someone noticed a cat for adoption named Christopher on the HART website, and she thought it could be Hunter! Krystal said, “I immediately pulled up the website, and IT WAS HIM!!! He was very thin, and to me, looked like he missed his family. I called right away and gave my information, and within about 45 minutes, he was back in my arms. Hunter was now chipped, neutered and had new vaccines. Since coming home he has been so happy, and the kids and I couldn’t be more grateful for HART and the care and love he received!”
Mayhem & Menace
At the beginning of August, two tiny kittens named Mayhem and Menace arrived at Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care in a dire state. They weighed only half of what they should for their age, and were suffering from both severe parasite infestation as well as a debilitating upper respiratory infection which caused their eyes to rupture. Unfortunately, their owner could not afford their medical care, so the kittens were surrendered to HART. HART’s Medical Manager, Bobbi-Jo, immediately took them under her supervision. She tirelessly provided round-the-clock care, including administering eye drop medication every 2-3 hours for the first month. Since then, their medication regimen has been successfully reduced from a staggering 16 courses to just a few a day. With this dedicated attention, these resilient kittens made astounding progress. After intensively caring for them for more than 3 months, Bobbi-Jo had fallen in love with this adorable, orange tabby pair, and in November, she adopted both kittens. They have gained all of the weight expected for their age, and Bobbi-Jo reports that Mayhem and Menace are living up to their spirited, lively names!
Phoebe Gets a Second Chance
Before coming to HART from our rescue partner in Milo, Maine, Phoebe (FKA Kissy) led a difficult life in a cat colony that was part of a heartbreaking hoarding situation. Upon her arrival, she wore the scars of her past, appearing frightened, heavily soiled, with patches of fur missing due to flea allergies, and suffering from partial blindness caused by a herpes virus infection. Phoebe underwent a remarkable transformation under the loving care of dedicated volunteers at HART. She received necessary grooming as well as the administration of eye drops that significantly improved her condition, and gradually learned to trust people in her new environment. Phoebe flourished over her 13-week stay at the shelter, and eventually, she found her forever home with one of HART’s volunteers. In this new loving home, Phoebe and her best feline friend, Hazel, another HART rescue, now engage in lively games of chase, playful antics, and warm snuggles with their adoring human companions. The change in Phoebe is so striking that she almost appears to be an entirely different cat.
