Abandoned Cat Needs Home

Another heartbreaking tale of animal abandonment reached our inbox this weekend, but this one could have a happy ending. Here's the story:

While walking my dogs this afternoon I found a cat with magical green eyes, a cat that looks to be a housecat, who has lived her entire life safe and cared for, suddenly now abandoned on the New York winter streets in her cat carrier with the door open left to die.

Someone left her in her cat carrier on a rarely traversed side street, and before they walked away they opened the door, sending this domesticated house cat (declawed on all four paws) into the streets of the city, with no way to defend herself and no way to care for herself. She was starving when we found her, and sitting terrified in her carrier, too nervous to move an inch.

We guess that this cat must have spent her life with a caregiver who recently died, leaving her abandoned and at the mercy and whim of whoever came in to clean out the apartment and throw her literally onto the streets. She must be so confused… wondering where her loving caregiver is, and why she is suddenly freezing, starving and alone. And, where she will go now and if anyone will take care of her.

The people who took her in already have 5 animals and cannot take in another one; they didn't want to take her to a city shelter (most, if not all, are overcrowded), so this green-eyed gato is up for adoption! She's approximately 4-5 years old and reportedly "has a very cute tummy" and loves "rolling on her back" for scratches. Email us if you are interested and we'll put you in touch with the temporary owners.

UPDATE: This just in from the temporary caretaker, "The lost lady has found a wonderful home with serious animal lovers who just picked her up and are so excited about her." If you are thinking of getting a pet, check out the ACC or any local shelter, after all, that's where this one could have ended up.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on March 3, 2008 11:05 AM

Comments [rss]

steevenb43

Abandoning any living creature is sick.

In this enlightened age - how can people toss away a living being as they would a piece of trash?

ugh

aattura

People who abandon their pets should be jailed and fined. Our pets DEPEND upon us as their caregivers, but LOOK at what some irresponsible slefish people do to them!!

Having a pet is a responsibility. If this pet's owner died, then whoever left her to fend for herself on the street is a criminal.

I'm so glad this little gurlie got adopted!! I wish ALL members of Man"KIND" would be KIND to ALL animals!!

rubyredhead

chloe is amazing!

ambage

Soft Paws rock!! My cats forget you have put the tips on 2 seconds after they dry. They can even use the scratching post and stretch out with them on. Declawing is evil.

Spirit of 76

Give it up, Zodak. Nobody here is interested in your anti-pet manifesto. I don't see any comments on your side.

Jen Chung

This cat is lovely and I'm so happy she's found a home. And some studies suggest declawed cats bite more. Here's one alternative I think is cute: Soft Paws aka kittie nail covers.

Såkandulæredet

There are plenty of delis that can use some more of these.

brooklynbee

Thank goodness for the happy ending!!

JacqueMehoff

I'm so glad to hear the lil gurl got adopted.

look's like she's box trained, too.

all the abandoned cats in my old building live in the basement, it's a labyrinth down there.

and, the old timers look out for them in the courtyard. still, it's not a home.

pazzia

aw, what a sweetie.

jimmylegs

nice to hear a happy cat ending for once. there are tons of abandoned house cats on our streets, i think the owners justify it by thinking, 'well at least out here they won't be cooped up in a little cage, and they MIGHT be able to survive off garbage.' people love to find ways to justify their laziness.

Gina Gemini

I really like the last photo where she's getting her head cradled and scratched! It's funny how cats (and a lot of humans, for that matter) love that! I'm glad she found a new home so quickly.

zodak

There is NO excuse for owning pets. It is a cruel, archaic practice, and should be made illegal.

ping

Glad to see such a sweet moggie get adopted.

There is NO excuse for de-clawing. It is a cruel, archaic practice, and should be made illegal.

ping

Glad to see such a sweet moggie get adopted.

There is NO excuse for de-clawing. It is a cruel, archaic practice, and should be made illegal.

ping

Glad to see such a sweet moggie get adopted.

There is NO excuse for de-clawing. It is a cruel, archaic practice, and should be made illegal.

Dave Hogarty

Discarding a cat on the street is pretty cold. Leaving a declawed cat to fend for itself on the street is sick. That's just abandoning it to certain slow starvation or predation. Glad to hear she found a good home.

Spirit of 76

Nice looking cat. Glad to read it all turned out well for her. Some people can be so cold-hearted. You couldn't at least take her to a shelter, you cretin? I don't understand the original owner, though. I don't agree with declawing since you're essentially amputating their fingertips, still I understand some people need it done as a last resort. But it's not necessary on the hind paws. Cats don't scratch with those paws and the claws tend to stay relatively dull, yet still allow the cat to climb trees to escape threats. What kind of mercenary vet did this to a cat without explaining how unnecessary it is to the owner? I can just imagine him: "Hey, declaw all four paws. Double the fee! Alright!"