Update on Taz and "No Ears"
We are happy to report that we finally trapped Taz! As it turns out, he is a very friendly cat. Our veterinarian performed surgery to remove the huge abscess that spanned from just below his left ear to his left shoulder. He also had a dental cleaning and a broken canine tooth extracted. His bloodwork revealed that he was FIV+, but otherwise healthy. Taz went home with the PACT volunteer who has been spending nearly all of her free time at the park trying to trap him. Taz stayed with her for over a month while his wound healed and he received ongoing veterinary care.
We were hoping to adopt Taz out to a loving family, but in the time he was being fostered, it became clear he was definitely an outside cat. He trashed his room and went to the bathroom everywhere except his litter box (and he checked out OK with the vet). Perhaps he had been outside too long to convert to life as an indoor cat. When Taz had his sutures removed, we reunited him with the residents of Touhy Mobile Home Park who were waiting anxiously for his return.
"No Ears"
Named "No Ears" by the residents because his ear flaps are missing (likely due to frostbite or hematomas), No Ears had been an outdoor cat at Touhy Mobile Home Park for at least 11 years. By June of this year, he had stopped eating. His caregiver didn't have the funds to take No Ears to the vet, so we took him in. No Ears also tested FIV+, yet his bloodwork showed that all organs were functioning well; he simply had a horrible case of parasites. Especially as a senior cat with FIV, he needs careful, daily observation and immediate access to veterinary care. The same PACT volunteer took him home and decided to keep him there with her small feral cat colony, which has indoor/outdoor access. Every day he sits on the lap of his new dad and enjoys the affection lavished upon him. Finally, in his golden years, No Ears gets the love & care he deserves.
