They All Have My Heart

Especially the special ones

Did you know that a cat’s heart is about the size of a small apricot and, depending on the individual cat, weighs no more than 20 grams? That’s less than a double AA battery! For my Florida foster, Cora Valentine, it’s even lighter because Cora was born with a hole in her heart… a minuscule imperfection that threatens her life, and all I want to do is fill that hole with love.

February is the season of hearts. It’s also Responsible Pet Owners Month, National Cat Health Month, and Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, with World Spay Day celebrated on February 25.

When I saw this list, it struck me that Cora Valentine could be the poster kitten for all of these issues. Responsible Pet Parents (I prefer “parents” to “owners”) provide health care for their pets, and perhaps the most basic and important aspect of that care is spay/neuter. While the causes of Cora’s condition are uncertain, many experts think inbreeding and heredity are factors. So, Cora’s flawed heart might not exist had her parents been “fixed”… but then Cora wouldn’t exist and be in my arms right now. Gosh, what a dilemma!

Cora’s condition is rare, affecting just one to two percent of kittens, and can be mild or severe. Cats can live comfortably with small holes, but larger ones can lead to congestive heart failure and should be corrected with surgery.

Cora has had a preliminary cardiac evaluation, but we must wait until early May, when she’s fully grown, to determine if surgery is an option. If not, she’ll be on her current meds for life, and we don’t know how long that could be. She’s my tiny ticking time bomb, poor little darling.

Cora’s in New York now, and I’d be thrilled if she could find her own family to love. I’ll happily cover her meds and any surgeries she might need for two years.

If you follow me, you know I have a soft spot for special-needs cats. Howard and I share our home with several whose needs made them “less adoptable.”

First is beautiful Bella, my absolute all-time favorite! She was found in a junkyard, blind and pregnant. We placed all her kittens, but because Howard and I fell in love with her, she stayed with us.

She has asthma, several allergies, and the herpes virus, and she’s on two medications for life. A few times a week, I bring her into the bathroom with me when I shower because the steam is therapeutic for her asthma. She’s 14 now, very strong-willed, and I can’t believe she’s still with us! She is one of the great loves of my life.

Then there’s Pebble Poops, who continues to battle IBD and pancreatic enzyme deficiency. And tortitude? She’s got it and then some, so much so that she needs calming meds, along with other meds, before each meal. She is quite high-maintenance, and I tell her every day how fortunate she is that we adopted her! Who else would put up with those stinky poops? But gosh, we love her so much.

Even without her medical challenges, Pebble’s emotional needs would make her hard to adopt. Timid cats, “scaredy cats,” and semi-feral cats are also special-needs pets and require families willing to accept them on their own terms. Personally, I love the shy ones the best…their need to feel safe touches my heart.

Next is Cocomelon. She’s my little sweet pea, practically tethered to me! As a kitten, she suffered a severe spinal injury that paralyzed her rear left leg and made her worthless to her heartless breeder. As a result, she can’t urinate on her own and needs me to manually express her bladder three times a day. We tried acupuncture and were hopeful, but it didn’t help.

Still, she is an absolute delight, and the thing about adopting any pet, especially a special one, is that you never know where it’s going to lead.

For example, Cocomelon simply adored our bunny Jessica Rabbit. When Jessica suddenly died, Cocomelon was heartbroken. Then, fate (or Jessica?) sent us another rabbit we named Stephen Heavensent, who’d been abandoned.

Once again, the chemistry was there. Cocomelon and Stephen formed the most adorable bond, which inspired me to write my new book, “Together Forever: How a Kitten and Bunny Became Best Friends,” available on May 5. You can preorder now, and I honestly think you’ll love it. It’s a children’s book, of course, but when it comes to a sweet love story about animals, we’re all little kids at heart.

By the way, I’m donating my author’s proceeds to North Shore Animal League America to help other animals, including the two special-needs sweeties below. I hope you’ll click their links and consider adopting one of them, or another special pet waiting at your local shelter.

If you do, I promise it’ll be one of the most rewarding relationships of your life. And you’ll quickly discover that the one thing they always needed was you!

xo
Beth

Meet Hydee (Adopt PR0516)
Hydee was admitted to Animal League America in early 2024 as a rescue from Puerto Rico. Hydee has feline interstitial cystitis and is on medication and a prescription diet to manage her condition. Though Hydee’s disorder can be stressful for her, this beauty with the chocolate milk mustache holds her own. All Hydee wants is a cozy spot to cuddle in.

Meet Buddy (Adopt R167641)
Buddy is a gentle Poodle mix who’s overcome so much and is ready for his forever home. This senior came to us in rough shape, but thanks to expert care, he’s thriving! Buddy has epilepsy that’s well-managed with daily medication (covered at cost for life through our Pet Health Centers). Buddy deserves a family that will cherish his golden years.