Sometimes a cat’s journey to Catmandu is a little more dramatic than others. Sofia’s journey included five kittens, emergency surgery, and not one — but two very close calls with death. Thankfully, this little girl is a survivor!

A long-haired tabby about two years old, Sofia wandered into the backyard of one of our Catmandu supporters last winter. She was thin, hungry, and clearly struggling to survive on her own. Our supporter began feeding her, but she was understandably worried. In recent months, she had lost several feral cats to coyotes, and she knew the dangers Sofia faced living outside. It was only a matter of time before Sofia became a coyote’s dinner.

Then Sofia started gaining weight. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because she was finally getting enough to eat. As she became increasingly slower and more awkward, our supporter realized something was very wrong and reached out to Catmandu.

We took Sofia in and quickly discovered the reason for her expanding waistline: she was EXTREMELY pregnant!

Sofia went into foster care, and just a few days later, on May 1, she gave birth to five beautiful kittens. She was a wonderful mama, and once her babies were weaned, Sofia was spayed and scheduled to come to Catmandu after she recovered from surgery.

But Sofia wasn’t finished with her battle for survival.

Just a couple of days after her spay, she suddenly began vomiting bile. She stopped eating and became lethargic very quickly. We rushed her to the veterinarian, where we learned that Sofia was suffering from an intussusception — a life-threatening condition in which one section of the intestine telescopes into another, creating a dangerous blockage.

Sofia needed emergency surgery immediately. The veterinary team at Carson Valley Vet removed six inches of damaged intestine and, thankfully, saved her life. The emergency surgery cost $4,200, but there was never a question that this little girl was worth fighting for. And fight she did.

Sofia recovered beautifully and is now completely healthy, happy, and ready to put all that drama behind her. She is a sweet, social little cat who greets people with affection and trust. She loves being petted, enjoys playtime, and has a wonderful personality. In other words, after everything she has been through, Sofia is finally ready for the easy part: being someone’s beloved cat. The intussusception is not likely to recur and she is now purrfectly healthy. She is up-to-date on her vaccines, spayed, and microchipped. Sofia tolerates other friendly cats. We do not know how she would do with a dog.

Sofia has already been saved twice. First, from the dangers of life on the streets, where she was thin, hungry, pregnant, and vulnerable to predators. Then again from a painful and potentially fatal intestinal emergency. She has survived the hard part. She has raised her babies. She has beaten the odds. All that’s missing is a loving home where she can spend the rest of her life being spoiled, adored, and very much appreciated.

If you’re looking for a loving little companion with a big survivor’s heart, Sofia would love to meet you. To meet Sofia and possibly make her part of your family, please complete a pre-adoption questionnaire at CatmanduCC.org and plan to visit him this weekend. Catmandu is open for adoptions Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Potential adopters are asked to arrive no later than 3 p.m. to allow plenty of time to get to know the cats before adoptions close. Catmandu is located at 1829 Brown Street in Carson City.

Catmandu is a local non-profit, cage-free cat rescue, shelter and sanctuary. We receive no government assistance or funds from national organizations. We depend solely on the support of our community. If you would like to volunteer or donate, please visit our website listed above.

Meow means thank you. Meow.

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