A Q& Awith North Carolina’s Blind Cat Rescue.
How did your organization get started?
We began as volunteers for another animal shelter. A blind kitten came to us indirectly through them, and taught us that a blind cat is just like a seeing cat. Louie also taught us that blind cats do not complain about their lot in life, they just get on with the job of living. From the shelter came our next two blind cats and thus Blind Cat Rescue began.
What is your mission?
Our mission is to give shelters and owners a safe placement for blind cats because most open admission or animal control shelters deem a blind cat unadoptable and they are destroyed. Also to teach the public that blind cats are wonderful loving companions and no more disabled than their seeing counterparts.
How do most of your animals find their way to you?
They have come to us from owners, from animal control shelters, and from other rescues. We have even found one at our local trash dump. We have cats come to us from all over the US and even two from Kuwait.
(Picture Credit: Blind Cat Rescue on Facebook)
What happens to the animals once they are in your care?
They are immediately taken to our vet and given complete physicals, including blood work, dental exams, appropriate vaccinations, and spayed or neutered. Also if their eyes need removing, that is done at the same time. We also address any other health needs.
Tell us about a particularly compelling animal or inspiring rescue.
Louie was our first blind cat. A man came up to us at a Petsmart adoptathon with a very sick kitten, trying to get the shelter to take him. The man tried to tell the shelter director that he looked like he did (eyes crusted shut, nose caked) because of allergies. The director would not take this kitten without some financial assistance from this man to pay for the antibiotics this animal obviously need. The man said, “Fine, I will leave him outside in the parking lot.” And he turned to leave.
At this point I stopped him and said I would take him. This poor little thing wasn’t more than six weeks old and just looked desperate for help! Got him on antibiotics, as his eyes were blown from the infection (we had them removed), but that sure didn’t stop Louie. When it was time to neuter him the shelter vet said we should euthanize this cat. What kind of quality of life could a blind cat have? Louie is a very loving fellow who spends his days outside in a safe fenced yard, climbing trees and chasing birds. I think he would tell you his quality of life is just fine.
Follow Blind Cat Rescue on Facebook to see more pics and to help share pics and find homes for blind cats.
