Back in September, a young cat named Jax arrived at the Canadian Animal Rescue & Extended Shelter (C.A.R.E.S.) in Langley in rough shape. His owner had been admitted to a rehabilitation facility, and the three-year-old tuxedo male needed help.
“When he first got here he was covered in some sort of rash – we weren’t entirely sure what it was,” recalls shelter co-ordinator Allison Chapman. “We suspected it might be ringworm, so we used a steroid cream on his skin and the problem seemed to clear up.”
Unfortunately, Jax’s troubles weren’t quite over. He caught an upper-respiratory infection – in other words, a cat cold – and, upon visiting the vet, C.A.R.E.S. staff learned of an abscess on his back.
“Abscesses are a pretty common skin condition in cats – they’re wounds that contain trapped bacteria that sometimes occur as a result of a bite during a fight,” Chapman explains. “We’re not exactly sure how this abscess happened, but it was another health hurdle that he had to overcome.”
Between the rash, infection and abscess, Jax went through a challenging period during which he lost his appetite, had trouble keeping down his food and generally did not feel well. But, through it all, shelter staff and volunteers, who hand-fed him and kept him company, marveled at what a sweet cat he was.
“He has been loving, affectionate and outgoing despite all his trials and tribulations, the trips to the vet and the meds,” she says. “Some cats would withdraw from the pain or confusion, but not Jax. He’s been our lovely, playful little buddy from the very beginning.”
Now, with a completely clean bill of health, this black-and-white cutie is ready for his forever home. Gentle and calm with kids and great with other cats – but perfectly content flying solo, too – nearly any type of environment would suit Jax.
“He had a run of bad luck at the start, but that’s all behind him,” Chapman says. “Now, he’d just love a person or family to call his own.”
Could you be the one to change Jax’s luck? For more information, visit www.carescatshelter.com.
