Pretty Girl Eliza

Just when we thought our days of rescuing were on hold. Our new apartment only allows us our 3 cats, no more. We took our boys over to the new place Tuesday night. Wednesday (yesterday), there was a huge snow storm. My husband and his friend were outside enjoying the snow when we saw what looked like a red feral cat that we've been trying to catch for almost 2 years who is currently pregnant (again - 4th time since we met her). Right now it's a rush to catch her before she gives birth, so hubby chased and caught her since the snow slowed her down. I was ecstatic, because for so long we couldn't get her.

Once inside, we realized it wasn't our pregnant red, but a pretty buff-colored tabby (looked red against the snow) we saw a few times within the last month or two. She was the skinniest cat I had ever seen, even including ferals. We bathed her, gave her food and litter, and she is SUCH a sweet cat. I immediately contacted the rescue group I was just working with to adopt out a stray mother and litter of kittens, which the last one (mother) was just adopted this past Sunday. The lady knew about the pregnant red I've been tracking, so I asked her if she still wanted to spay this new girl. She agreed. She will be taking her Saturday before the movers come, then she'll be spayed and put up for adoption with their group or at a shelter - either is better than being outside in winter.

Not only is Eliza very very underweight, but her paw pads are all red and torn up a bit, either from frostbite or sidewalk salt irritation. She limps and doesn't want to put any pressure on one paw in particular. She's going to the vet this evening for testing, vaccinations, and to get her paws treated. Thankfully, they have medication for treating frostbite.

She is an incredible girl, she loves loves loves being held and will cry for as long as it takes to get us to pick her up. She was miserable by the time I went to visit her this morning after being in the bathroom all night by herself while we slept. I would have left her out in the apartment but she doesn't seem to have the energy to seek out the litter box by herself if she's too far from it since her paw hurts so much. She tries not to walk as much as possible.

My husband is in love with her, head over heels. I've been looking for a female for a long time that didn't have an attitude, so far all of the female strays we've taken in either didn't like us or didn't like our other cats. It's sad that she came to us at such a bad time, when we definitely can't keep her, but I think we got her just in time for her own health.

More updates after the vet visit tonight.