Feral Paws Rescue: Cindy, Mushie, And Zubie

By Paula Hunsaker

Feral Paws Rescue Group in Fresno shares with us some of their animal rescue adventures every month. Check out KRL’s article about Feral Paws to learn more about them and check out their website. 

That special attachment to a rescue kitty. In rescue, many sweet loving kitties will pass thought your hands. We know that in rescue we would like to save them all, but we must accept the fact we can’t save them all and move forward.

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So many of us who spend endless hours nursing a sick shelter cat back to health, and it’s hard to not get attached. The greatest gift a nonprofit rescue can give to a cat rescued from a shelter is allowing the cat to move forward to his/her loving home. Oh, I will be the first to say that isn't easy to do. But the saying is, when you adopt a shelter cat you are saving two lives. The one you’re adopting, and the one who won’t die that day because you’ve made space for it. Rescue isn't for everyone. It’s tough, and we see the worse of some humans’ treatment toward animals.

I have grown attached to three kitties from our rescue that I keep as my personal kitties. Each one is so different.

Mushie (Persian Calico) came from a kill shelter. After her owner passed away, family didn't want her and tossed her out on to the streets! Yes, a purebred Persian! She became very sick, and someone contacted animal control who went out and got her. They treated her medical condition for over a month. After that I was able to pull her from the shelter. She was scared, confused, and didn't want to eat. I began giving her a lot of attention, trying to build a bond with her. Persians are my breed of choice, but are such high maintenance. As time went on, I grew more and more attached to her as her personality started showing. In her photo, she is lying against a pillow, legs crossed, watching TV, at least looking at the TV! She stole my heart.

Then there is Cindy, a white purebred Persian. Her owner was 102 years old and being placed into a living facility. Cindy was being taken to animal control when we were contacted. She thinks she is a diva––touch me not! She walks around as if she’s saying, “Look how beautiful I am, but don't touch my beautiful fur!” Before coming to our rescue, she was attacked by a dog. Whenever she was near a dog, she would bite and scratch you if you tried to touch her. So I chose to keep her for one of my personal cats. Even though she is getting much better around dogs, I am attached to her, and she will remain as my personal cat.

Zubie came to me as a very sick kitten. He was on deaths door. My vet kept telling me Zubie was so sick that he was going to break my heart. I slept with Zubie, syringe fed him, gave him iv fluids, and kept him on a heating pad. This went on for weeks. I was not sure from one day to the next if he would live. I even took him to my Catholic priest to have him blessed. Being Catholic myself, I believe in this blessing from the priest at my church. All I can say is, Zubie pulled through when the odds were against him. The bond we have is unlike any I have ever had with any animal. I can't explain how it feels different. We do everything together. He goes with me in the car and lies on the dash as I drive. He loves to stare at the people in cars when we stop. Many people think he is a stuffed animal until he moves. Their reactions are so funny. My world, my everything, is in this ball of fur! He sleeps next to me under the covers, head on the pillow. He gets everyone's attention any place we go.

Each animal is different, and when you’re a perfect match for one, trust me––they will choose you. For they say you don't choose them, they choose you. I know so many times at our rescue when people want to adopt a kitty, they so often don’t leave with the one they came for. One of the other kitties stole their heart by choosing them! I tell them when they come for a kitty they picked out on-line, to keep their minds and hearts open because another kitty may choose them! They laugh. I just wait to see who they take home.

So, when you go to adopt a kitty, be aware you’re not choosing the kitty, they are picking you!

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section on Kings River Life, and the Pets section here on KRL News & Reviews. Check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from Feral Paws. We also have a special Facebook Group for our pet articles--join and never miss a pet article.