Our cat of the week is Poppy!
This week’s featured kitty is a special girl who needs a special furever home. Poppy is a cute petite black and white tuxedo. She arrived at the Shelter mid-March of 2023. (Yes, she has been at the shelter for over a year and really deserves a home and human(s) of her own!)
She was one of six cats rescued along with 35 terrier mix dogs from a terrible hoarding situation in Rea Valley. She’s about two to three years old now and has the sweetest tiny little meow. One thing to know about her is that she tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). This means that she has a weakened immune system and needs to be in a calm home. Ideally, this would be as an only cat, only have canine companions, or with other FIV-positive kitties.
In case you are not familiar with FIV, here are some things to know:
- Cats with FIV often have similar life spans to cats without it. Studies conducted in 2010 and 2022 found that an FIV diagnosis wasn’t associated with decreased lifespans.
- FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or non-feline animals.
Poppy is very sweet and likes to indicate to the Shelter cat supervisor when she wants to be picked up by standing on her back legs. Said cat supervisor is unable to resist such adorable cuteness and will always stop what she’s doing to pick up Poppy and give her cuddles. Our tough girl, Poppy, is dealing with an additional issue of which a potential adopter would need to be aware. She’s currently suffering from stomatitis, a condition that the shelter would surgically correct before her adoption would be completed so potential adopter would not need to worry about the cost involved.
Stomatitis in cats is a complex, painful, and frustrating disease that causes severe inflammation of the entire mouth, including the gingiva (gum tissue around the teeth) and mucous membranes. The cause of stomatitis in cats is unknown. It’s most likely an exaggerated response to a virus or bacteria and plaque on the teeth, but the exact cause remains a mystery.
The current recommended treatment is partial or full-mouth tooth extraction surgery. While this may seem like a drastic measure, it’s currently the best way to achieve substantial and long-term comfort for cats with stomatitis. Studies have shown that 90% of cats that undergo partial or full-mouth tooth extractions have shown complete resolution of their stomatitis symptoms. Once the gum tissue has healed, many cats are willing and able to eat kibble again. Pet parents often see quick improvement in their cat’s attitude, appetite, and quality of life once their mouth is free from the pain and inflammation of stomatitis.
Our dog of the week is Baby Berger!
Baby Berger is a pretty blonde and white chihuahua mix that is approximately five years old and weighs 18 pounds. She is very timid right now because shelter life is pretty scary for the smaller dogs. She is coming around though and is walking better on a leash. She is house broken and doesn’t pay any attention to the cats that live at the shelter.
She loves to go out to the play yard and run with her housemate that was also brought to the Shelter. We have had her up in the front in the Thrift Store at the Shelter and she likes laying on the couch with someone petting her. She also enjoys watching all the activity going on up front.
Baby Berger came to the Shelter after her owner passed away leaving her and three other dogs orphaned. They were being cared for by a neighbor who could not keep them. She had always been an inside dog until her owner’s death but had to stay outdoors at the neighbor’s house. Her owner passed away in May and the Shelter now had room to take her in and help her find a new family. She would make a great addition to a home where she can just relax and be loved on.
If you’d like to meet Poppy, Baby Berger, or any of our other adoptables, please give Have A Heart a call at 870/449-7387 or drop by the Shelter located at 657 Highway 202 West in Yellville during our normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm. Hope to see you soon!