When Minty first arrived at SAFE Haven for Cats in early February, she was in critical condition. This three-and-a-half-year-old girl had been living with a colony of feral cats, but she wasn’t doing well. She was congested, struggling to eat, and clearly very sick.
Our veterinary team discovered Minty was battling multiple health challenges: a severe case of feline herpes, scarring on her eyes from untreated upper respiratory infections, and, ultimately, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a serious and often fatal disease caused by a mutated feline coronavirus. Minty’s journey wasn’t easy. She required two weeks of IV fluids and antibiotics given five times a day before she was even stable enough for lab tests.
For most cats in a shelter environment, an FIP diagnosis is a death sentence. But SAFE Haven can give the time and resources to provide needed care because of our community’s support.
Treatment for FIP is not only time-intensive, but it’s also the most expensive in-house medical treatment SAFE Haven provides. Dosages often need to change daily, based on even the smallest changes in a cat’s weight. On top of that, FIP caused permanent kidney damage for Minty, which has led to renal disease. While some cats can manage this with prescription diets, Minty was a picky princess when it came to her food. Instead, our team managed her care with daily kidney supplements and fluid treatments every three days.
Through it all, Minty showed remarkable resilience. She may have been fragile when she arrived, but her personality quickly began to shine through. She’s a feisty little firecracker who is selective about her friends, but when you’re in her inner circle, you’ll have one of the most loyal companions you could ask for.
Fox, one of our Shelter Veterinary Assistants, was one of Minty’s favorites. With her chosen humans, she loves affection, tolerates being picked up, and proves that cats with medical challenges still have so much love to give.
Caring for Minty required tremendous resources: specialized medications, daily treatments, veterinary oversight, and the dedication of our entire team. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Your support makes this possible. Because of generous donors, cats like Minty get the chance to heal, grow, and live their best lives.
Minty’s story is proof of what compassion can do. Thank you for standing with her, and with every cat who deserves a second chance.
