Cat Diagnosed With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Finally Finds A Loving Family
Some rescue stories start with heartbreak, then turn into something much sweeter. Toby and Quinton, two cats with very different needs, ended up finding exactly the kind of home they had been waiting for.
After their previous rescue cat, Herbie, died at 16, Georgina Price and her fiancé, Christopher Lardner, felt their quiet home in Stroud, England, was missing something. When they began looking again, they were drawn to two special-needs cats at the RSPCA, including Toby, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Quinton, who quickly became his closest companion.
Their bond is the part that makes this adoption story stick with you. Read on.
This is Toby.
Toby has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
This means that he suffers from a group of connective tissue disorders, which cause fragile, stretchy, and loose skin. Understanding these conditions is crucial for providing the right care and support for affected animals.
Speaking to Meow, Georgina said:
"I just kept thinking about all the animals that might only have five months left and would spend the whole of that time in a shelter. We decided we would look for an extra special cat that might take a little longer to find a home."
Georgina stumbled across Toby and Quinton on the RSPCA website.
Quinton is a 7-year-old fluffy white and black cat who is missing all of his teeth, and Toby is a 6-year-old short-haired cat with extremely loose skin.
This also echoes the one-eyed, one-nostril cat finally adopted by a loving family, despite the birth defect.
The couple had not heard of EDS before, but they knew that Toby needed a loving home.
When they arrived at the RSPCA, they found the two special needs cats huddled in the back of a special unit to separate them from the other animals.
While Quinton allowed Georgina to pet him, Toby was far too scared.
The pair are inseparable.
While timid at first, both of them are now very comfortable in their new home.
A downside of Toby's EDS is that he is very prone to injury, even while cleaning himself. Quinton has learned this and cleans Toby's face for him, as well as keeping his claws retracted while the two play together.
Aside from his syndrome, Toby is a normal cat.
Toby loves to watch birds, play with bouncy balls, and cuddle with his parents.
"He loves belly rubs and will plop himself next to you and look at you, waiting for you to rub his belly."
Toby's parents try to minimize the amount of jumping he does.
This is because EDS can cause joint problems, and his extra weight from his saggy skin might cause issues later in his life.
Georgina hopes that sharing Toby's story will raise awareness for his condition.
She also hopes that it encourages more people to adopt special needs cats.
"It doesn’t take any more to love them, and despite whatever it is that may make them ‘special needs,’ they are still beautiful animals with their own amazing personalities, likes, dislikes, and the ability to love you back."
Mlep!
Follow Toby and Quinton's adventures as they navigate their new life together. According to Dr. Gary Chapman, a renowned marriage counselor, "The love we give to our pets can mirror the love we share with our families," which emphasizes the importance of companionship in our lives. For more insights on building strong relationships, visit his website at 5lovelanguages.com!
Before Toby found his loving family, read how a cat was nearly euthanized after traveling 12 miles.
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