When Bre was approached to foster Cheese Thief, a special needs kitten who had recently been taken to High Country Humane Animal Shelter by the police in February 2021, she agreed to help the four-month-old feline. “He had been found on a construction site and had bitten one of the construction workers when they found him in a Caterpillar [a brand of construction equipment] and tried to get him to move,” explains Bre.
The photo credit goes to @b.lou_fosters on Instagram. Cheese Thief recently finished a 10-day quarantine for animals that have bitten people, and the shelter hoped that Brea – an experienced fosterer – could provide the young feline with much-needed socialization. The following day, Brea went to High Country Humane Animal Shelter near her home in Flagstaff, Arizona, to pick up the young gray and white cat. “When I first looked at him in the carrier, he was hissing up a storm and was spitting and swatting at anyone who came near him,” recalls Brea.
The picture, taken by @b.lou_fosters on Instagram, shows Cheese Thief, who has obvious behavioral issues, being medicated for an upper respiratory infection and giardia. Consequently, Breas set up a large dog crate with his carrier, food, litter, water, bedding, and toys until he was ready – both mentally and physically – to explore the rest of her home.
Bre arranged everything strategically, placing the food and litter box near the doors for quick access with minimal risk to herself. She used gloves or wrapped her hand in a towel to handle the dishes since the Cheese Thief had been neutered but was still swatting and lunging at her. When the Cheese Thief arrived at Bre’s home, he had already been neutered, but abnormalities with his eyelids were noticed while he was under anesthesia. The shelter staff was unable to fully assess the apparent issue while he was asleep, nor were they able to examine him up close while he was awake.
The picture was taken by @b.lou_fosters on Instagram. Brea suspected something was going on with her new puppy’s eyes from the second day she had him. So, she continued to socialize Cheese Thief to allow the shelter staff a closer look at his eyelids during his upcoming booster vaccine appointment.
The story is about a four-month-old grey and white kitten named Cheese Thief, who cried nonstop during his first week in his foster home, making it difficult for the family to sleep. The foster owner, Brea, tried several tactics to make him stop meowing at night, such as leaving the lights on, putting a radio on for him, and even covering his crate, but none of them worked. She then asked the shelter for more recommendations, and ultimately, establishing a clear routine helped Cheese Thief to stop crying at night. Brea’s effort to socialize Cheese Thief paid off, and during his next appointment with the vet, a thorough examination revealed that he had a mild case of feline eyelid agenesis, a congenital condition that causes affected cats to be born with missing or malformed eyelids. In severe cases of eyelid agenesis, cats are at risk of serious injuries to their eyes because they don’t have anything to protect their corneas from irritants like dirt, dust, and even their own fur. To prevent damage, Brea explained that they need to keep an eye on Cheese Thief’s fur growing above his eyes because they can irritate his corneas.
The picture posted by @b.lou_fosters on Instagram is of an adorable grey and white kitten named Cheese Thief. Thankfully, the veterinarian determined that he did not need surgery to treat his feline eyelid agenesis, but he was prescribed eye drops to keep them lubricated and moist. While Cheese Thief is able to completely close his eyes, it’s possible he can’t see clearly because of his condition. Despite this, he is a happy and healthy kitten now available for adoption, and his foster mom wants him to find a great forever home! According to Brea, an ideal adopter for Cheese Thief would be someone who has another cat at home, so he can have a lifelong buddy and someone who will love him for who he is. He will be adopted with a medical waiver so his adopters are aware of his medical needs moving forward.
The photo is from @b.lou_fosters on Instagram. In addition to providing a loving home, Cheese Thief’s adopters must agree to continue his treatment for feline eyelid agenesis and ensure that he remains an indoor-only cat. While finding a home with people who will take care of his special needs is crucial, Brea believes it is equally important for him to have a family who appreciates and understands his unique personality. “Each cat is an individual and their special needs are just part of who they are,” explains Brea. “Having compassion and looking past the special needs to get to know that cat’s individual personality is so important.”
