Foster cat - Mittens

[Cheesenugget]

I got a lot of positive feedback from my first foster thread in this forum. Thank you for your support! For a foster parent, it means a lot, especially when the foster isn't feeling too good.

In this case, I saw a post on my local shelter FB account requesting for a rescue for Mittens, a 4-year old tuxedo female cat. I got a copy of her medical records, and here is her history:

Broward County Animal Services - ID A1836045

7/30/16 - Admitted into the shelter. She was a kitten, about 3 lbs.

8/3/16-8/9/16: Diagnosed with URI. She received treatment.

9/6/16 - Appeared to have recovered, possibly adopted on this day.

5/30/20 - Four years had gone by, and she was found as a stray. She was showing symptoms of a URI upon intake.

This URI continued from 5/30 to present day.

She feels chubby, lol. I can't feel her ribs. I have a 5 year old cat about her size, who is no skinny Minnie, but Mittens gained some weight, probably munching on kibble out of boredom and stress at the shelter.

**If you look at one of her ear, the tip was intentionally cut by the vet. This means she was found outside, presume she was a community cat, and after checking she was spayed already, they clip her ear and released her back where she was trapped. However, I am guessing the shelter staff changed their mind and decided to give her a chance to get a good home, or she was released and caught a 2nd time, or a good Samaritan brought her in, or the owner lost her or don't want her and surrendered stating its a stray to save face.**

Numerous different treatments were used, including nebulizing a few times a week, antibiotics, checking for nasal polyps. The vet believe she has chronic rhinitis.

This past weekend, she was removed from being adoptable to requiring rescue. When posts like this pop up in SOS FB groups, it is usually a red flag: she needs rescue, to be adopted with med release, or to be euthanized because her quality of life and health is not improving.

I picked her up about an hour ago. This is her after I opened the carrier. She is napping in front of me as I type this.

I have experience caring and treating cats and kittens with URI. Mittens is NOT the worst case I have seen. She has a stuffy nose, sneezed a few times, but otherwise she is curious, very, very affectionate, very loving. She kept purring and rub against me for petting.

She has a vet checkup next week.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk