Tulip

Tulip's life before we met her was full of pain and cruelty. At only 3 years old she had been abused, neglected, and finally dumped at a rural shelter with a high-kill rate when she was no longer wanted. When we first saw her; her little face was bloodied from multiple abrasions, her ears were severely damaged and inflamed from untreated ear infections, and she was covered in mites, flea bites, and blisters from sun damage. We learned she’s FIV+ (positive) which means at some point in her life she was bitten by another infected cat. She also had a bee-bee bullet lodged in her left shoulder that was never tended to. Her tiny body had scars from fighting off other cats, humans, and infections…

We knew right then and there that we couldn’t let the world be unkind to this poor girl any longer. We immediately brought her back with us and provided medical care to treat her wounds. She also received the first bath she had probably had in a very long time. We got her spayed and provided vaccines, antibiotics, and a variety of medications for the various ailments she was suffering from; including anemia. She was also microchipped to prepare her for a permanent family one day. Her progress was moving very quickly and we were proud to see just how much she was still willing to fight even after how cruelly she was treated by everyone else in her life until that point. She wanted to live happily and she had been showing us and telling us that every single day since we went to get her. 

Her personality also bloomed brightly just like the lovely flower she was. She had grown a great appetite and really enjoyed being held. She followed her foster mom around the house and truly became quite the gentle beauty. The light in her eyes had returned since being in our care and she was no longer hopeless like when we first encountered her.

Still, with all of her progress, we still had some fear lingering in the back of our minds. Because of the strange scaring on her ears, we feared she may have developed skin cancer and all of her progress thus far would be reverted in an instant. Tulip had a beautiful all-white coat, unfortunately, her abusive household had left her outside all of her life. This didn’t just mean her coat was stained, but she had barely any protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Finally, in early April we had tests run that confirmed to us that the damage was not in fact cancerous; and that all she had to worry about was a small yeast infection in her ear. We treated the infection and took her to get a second opinion in late April that confirmed our hopes. Her ears would always have a slight deformity from the damage; but after everything she had been through, we figured this was truly the best outcome. She was finally ready to move on. 

And move on she did. 

Not long after, her new fur-ever family came for her. This small, delicate, amazing kitty was finally getting to go home. This was going to be a home that treated her RIGHT. It was a home she deserved. We are so happy she found them, and we’re so excited that she finally has a safe place to plant her roots and live out the rest of her many years.

We could not have done it without you! She was a favorite and was adored by so many of the Carolina Cat family. She received so many wonderful gifts and well wishes. You all really helped make up for the love and care that was so cruelly taken from her when she was only a baby. Now, neither she nor we have to worry anymore because she will be happy from here on out. Tulip’s a special girl, and we’re lucky to have met her.