Rescued Cat Who Has No Ears Finds Love In A Home Full Of Special Needs Cats Just Like Him
At a no-kill cat sanctuary in Arlington, Washington, one rescued cat got a second chance after being found living under a shed. Pika had already been through a lot, including a skin condition that left him without ears, but he still had plenty of personality left.
When the family who first took him in realized their dogs made him uneasy, they brought him to the Cat Cafe, where he could wait for the right home. That home turned out to belong to Jane, a foster mom who already had a soft spot for cats with special needs.
Pika’s new life started with a little hesitation, then took a turn that made all the difference. Read on.
Meet the Cat, Pika!
Pika was indeed a sweet and loving boy, enchanting the workers and staff at the sanctuary with his affectionate character. Even though some might see him as "broken" because of his ears, he quickly became a favorite among those who had the pleasure of interacting with him.
Pika Lost His Ears to a Skin Issue, but His Sense of Hearing Wasn’t Affected.
This same place is where Pika met Jane, a volunteer with a soft spot for felines who need additional medical attention. Jane had already taken in some cats requiring special care from Purrfect Pals.
Some of these cats include Lefty, who is partially blind; Chrissy Lee, who has corneal herpes; and Freckles, who suffers from stomatitis.
This Same Place Is Where Pika Met His Foster Mom, Jane
Through other volunteers, Jane learned about Pika, and when she met him, she knew she wanted him to come home with her! Pika took some time to adjust to his new home.
He stayed cautious at first, but that didn’t last forever.
“We have an integration system in our house that involves gates and gated rooms… He was fine in his gated room, but loud noises definitely scared him. I’m not sure if he hears differently without most of his ears or if it was because he’s new or still getting used to not being a stray…”
“For over a week, he was content in that room, then one day he decided to follow me out, so I allowed him out… It was on his timeframe, and I’d say he was easier than most to integrate. He immediately became very playful and loved carrying around a fuzzy cat toy in his mouth,”
Pika’s special-needs story echoes the one-eye, one-nostril cat finally adopted by a loving family, despite his birth defect.
Jane Definitely Knew She Wanted Him to Come Home with Her!
At first, Jane was concerned that Pika might not fit in with the rest of her cat family, as she said:
“I think Pika prefers our mostly blind cat, though he doesn’t seem to care one way or the other unless they are bothering him… Lefty is completely harmless and non-territorial or aggressive. He’s goofy and just wants to play. I’ve seen them all sleep right near Pika at various times. He doesn’t initiate it, but he doesn’t seem bothered.”
“When I adopted him, I realized that there was a risk, but there is a risk with all cats. He deserved a home with a warm bed and people to care for him. So - we’ll just do the best we can. We have awesome vets and will make his life the best we can.”
Pika Has Finally Found His Happy Place
Pika is still taking his sweet time to familiarize himself with his new family, but Jane says she sees other felines checking out their newest addition. What are your thoughts about Pika?
Drop your thoughts about this post in the comments below.
After Pika’s ear loss, see how a dog with knitted ears still got adopted, too.
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