Once a HART cat, always a HART cat!

Did you know all cats and kittens adopted from HART have a seven-day health guarantee? Although we do everything possible to ensure our cats and kittens are healthy at the time of adoption, sometimes there are underlying issues that HART is unaware of, which may arise later. Additionally, regardless of whether the adoption happened days, weeks, or years ago, if an adopter can no longer keep their cat, for whatever reason, we ask that the cat or kitten be returned to us and not sold or re-homed. In either case, we believe that once a HART cat, always a HART cat, as was the situation for both Talos and Tara.

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Tara’s Story

Tara came to HART from our rescue partner in Tennessee in October 2021 and was quickly adopted the following month by a kind older woman looking for a feline companion. A year ago, Tara developed anemia, which was found by her vet at The Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Sanford, Maine. She was ultimately diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), a blood disorder in which her body attacks its own blood cells and causes anemia (low blood counts).

Tara’s adopter and her vet treated her for the illness for almost a year until they determined she needed more specialized care than could be given by her owner. At that point, Tara came back to HART.

Upon returning to HART in January of this year, we arranged an appointment with a specialist at Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care to determine a course of treatment. In partnership with their care team, Tara’s condition has been stabilized, and she has a treatment plan which includes frequent blood work (currently every other week). Her tests and treatments thus far have cost HART $2,500. We hope to reunite Tara with her previous adopter, but meantime, she is enjoying her stay in Room 1, and we will continue to provide her a loving environment and the care she needs

Talos’s Tale

Talos was brought to HART by our rescue partner, Friends of Feral Felines in Portland, in early January after they found him in a managed colony in the Lewiston/Auburn, Maine area. A managed colony is one in which all of the cats have been spayed and neutered, so that the colony does not grow in size unless new unspayed/unneutered cats are introduced. Upon intake, it was discovered that he had an eye deformity called eyelid agenesis, which is not considered serious, and he was quickly adopted within the month.

However, shortly after adoption, Talos became very ill with diarrhea and weight loss. Extremely concerned, his adopter brought him back to us to see if we could help. Upon exam, and based on his very unique medical situation, we immediately sent him for hospitalization at Gray-New Gloucester Animal Hospital to treat his diarrhea. Once stable, he came back to our shelter to continue treatment and convalescence before returning to his adoptive home. Unfortunately, plans changed when he was suddenly stricken with blindness and started having seizures. We promptly took him to Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care, where he was hospitalized. Although extensive testing did not reveal the underlying cause for his blindness and seizures, we were not willing to give up on this little guy.

We started more medications to treat his ailments in February. Our Medical Manager even took him with her everywhere for a week in order to treat and monitor him. Happily, Talos's eyesight has returned, and with another couple of weeks of antibiotics, we should be able to finally return him to his adopter, who will need to continue to administer anti-seizure medication for at least a year.

In the short time that Talos has been back in our care, we estimate it has cost HART nearly $4,100 for his medical treatments and tests. We are willing to take on such costs to ensure the health and well-being of our cats.

Meet Endora

Last year, we brought you the story of Endora, a beautiful, 12-year-old girl who transferred to us from Friends of Feral Felines in Portland in November 2022. Endora had an old but significant injury to her left rear leg, and we believe that a car may have struck her at some point in her life. Due to the extent of the damage, her leg required surgical amputation, for which she underwent surgery in December of 2022 and recovered very well.

Newly a “tripod," Endora readily became accustomed to balancing and walking with three legs. She also received lots of one-on-one time with our Shy Angels Socialization Team, who were able to help this once shy and somewhat apprehensive cat blossom into a more social, happy gal who actively sought out attention and pets from people and interacted with the other cats in her room.

Just this past February, Endora (now named Endora Helen, after her adopter's grandmother) found a new home with Shelly, who has adopted several other senior cats over the years. Shelly tells us that Endora Helen, her first female tabby, has adjusted very well to her new home, happily playing in different rooms. She's still a bit of a “Shy Angel", but Shelly has been patiently working on this with her. She sits on the floor beside her, waiting for Endora Helen to come over to be petted. Shelly says, “Each day, she gets closer to me, and I look forward to the day she sits on my lap! That day is coming soon." Shelly promises to share pictures.

Lilo: A Silly Girl Looking For Her Forever Home

Lilo is a beautiful, 5.5-year-old, special needs cat. Playful, inquisitive, fun, feisty, and super affectionate, she loves attention from people. When she was a young kitten, Lilo suffered an unknown trauma that required her tail to be amputated. She was left incontinent and requires manual bladder expression several times per day, but she doesn't seem to mind!

We are seeking an experienced adopter to give this special girl a home. Are you her person?

Kiwi’s Story

Kiwi is a medium-haired, brown patch tabby with soulful eyes. She is approximately 10 years old and came to HART from our rescue partner, Friends of Feral Felines, in Portland, Maine. This little lady is an adorable, purring puffball who loves to be petted and brushed.

Kiwi arrived with some pre-existing health conditions, including skin allergies and a history of ear and urinary tract infections. Happily, we have been successful in treating most of her ailments, and getting her off almost all of her medications. However, she will need to continue on a special duck diet to keep her allergies in check.

Since Kiwi has been with HART for over a year and has had many medical treatments, we estimate it has cost us nearly $3,100 for her medical care. But, the good news is that Kiwi is ready to find her forever home with an adopter who has an established relationship with a trusted veterinarian and the ability to monitor her health conditions.

Charlie, the Sweetest Boy!

Charlie was surrendered to HART in December of 2022 because of inconsistent litter box use and other health issues his owner could not afford to treat. Charlie is a sturdy, orange tabby boy with a bit of white on his muzzle and chin. At 13 years old, he is a distinguished older gentleman and such a cool cat - calm, sweet, and laid back. He enjoys getting visitors' attention but also has his moments of independence. When happy, he can purr so that his whole body vibrates!

Charlie has severe arthritis (joint changes in his elbows and knees), and you'll notice he walks with bowed elbows. He takes some meds to help him with the discomfort in his joints. Charlie also has renal disease, meaning his kidneys are not working the way that they should. We have been maintaining his kidneys with various treatments, including fluids under the skin daily. None of the treatments bother him much, and his arthritis does not prevent him from getting around or climbing to the tops of cat trees and perches.

Charlie has been with HART for over a year, and with his many treatments, blood work, and exams, we estimate it has cost HART over $6,300 for his medical care. Charlie has no issues with the other cats in his room, and he is a gentle soul who would love nothing more than the chance to live in a loving home, where he can spend his senior years with a caring family. Making simple accommodations for him in the home, like providing easy access to multiple litter boxes and a special kidney health diet, will benefit him. Charlie's adopter will need an established relationship with a veterinarian, since his renal disease will require close monitoring and frequent blood work.

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April Is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

At HART, we have over 100 committed volunteers, who alongside our small staff, work hard every single day to keep our cats happy, safe and healthy.

To our Cleaners; Feeders; Medical Team; Shy Angels and Socialization Teams; Transporters; Intake Team; Fostering Team; Kitten Team; Adoption Team; Yard Sale and Events Team; Development, Operations, Finance, and Human Resources Committees; and our Board of Directors...

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

HART of Maine and our mission would not be possible without all of your hard work and dedication, and the cats thank you from the bottom of their hearts!

Your Support Allows Us To Continue Healing HART Cats, No Matter The Cost.

When a cat comes to HART, our primary goal is to ensure they are healthy and ready for adoption. At times, this comes at a considerable cost. Talos, Charlie, and Kiwi are just a few examples of cats with extenuating medical issues that we've been able to help, thanks to the generosity of our community.

If you are able, please consider making a contribution to our Spring Fundraiser - it is currently underway, and we urgently need to reach our goal of $50,000 to continue our life saving work.