Emerson’s Next Chapter
Rescued from the cold of BC’s north, resilient Emerson is settling in at RAPS Cat Sanctuary.
After a long, wintry road trip and settling into his new digs, Emerson has received the medical attention he needed.
After this amazing, resilient, feisty boy was found blind, feral, and struggling in the cold of northern BC, he was taken to a rescue agency in Prince George. His particular challenges mean that the RAPS Cat Sanctuary is the place for him, since he was not likely to find a forever family.
We don’t know why he lost his sight – a neurological issue, trauma or some other factor – but he has since regained some vision and we hope his sight continues to improve.
As always, our community stepped up when we put out a call for assistance. We found a ride for him from Prince George to Kamloops, but getting him the last leg, over the Coquihalla to Richmond, proved a challenge.
Again, a dedicated ally connected us with Jet Set Pets Pet Transportation Service, which delivered him safely and (relatively) happily into the awaiting, enveloping care of our team.
This week, Emerson had his physical exam at RAPS Animal Hospital with Dr Hannah and the team.
SUPPORT EMERSON’S ONGOING MEDICAL CARE
Here’s what the doctor said …
Emerson is estimated to be about two years old.
The team neutered and microchipped him. (Snipped and chipped, as we say!)
He has some sight, perhaps seeing shadows, and he walks cautiously, following along walls and using his whiskers to feel his way.
The team found no signs of trauma or other neurological symptoms like circling.
He has a chipped canine tooth that will require extraction, but is not causing pain at the moment.
Emerson isn’t used to humans, so he was sedated for physical exam because he was a less-than-cooperative patient.
At the same time, we’ve seen his type before. The gang at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary has decades of experience making even the most human-averse animals into attention-seeking purr-boxes.
This is not always the case, obviously!
That’s why the Sanctuary treats every cat as an individual. If Emerson decides humans aren’t so bad, he’ll get all the attention he needs. He might even get adopted into a forever family home!
If he decides to stick mostly with his four-legged peers, he’ll live out his life in the luxurious “Kitty Club Med” of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.
For now, he is in the security of a large enclosure at the Sanctuary, where he is acclimating to the smells, sounds and environment. He will likely remain there for several more weeks and we will see if his attitude changes as he begins to see bipeds as a source of the most delicious food, comforting bedding, warm accommodations he has never known and, perhaps in time, even rubs, pets and cuddling.
RAPS has a whole team of Kitty Comforter volunteers whose sole job is to make ferals like Emerson comfortable around hairless giants like us.
We’ll keep you updated with Emerson’s progress.
Meanwhile, we are raising resources for his ongoing medical treatment and forever care.
If you are in a position to give, your generosity will change Emerson’s life!
