Piper
Piper’s story is a difficult one, and it challenges all of us to focus on the best that can be found in other people, rather than the worst. As you will discover, Piper’s story involves both. On Christmas Eve 2020, we received an email from a woman in northern California. She had had a blind cat for a year and had decided that she “didn’t want IT anymore”. She stated that if she couldn’t find someone to take the cat, the woman was going to put her outside and be done with her.
It was a cold, rainy winter; threatening to put a blind cat outside was callous and cruel at any time, and this was made it even worse. We immediately contacted some fellow rescuers in northern California who swiftly mobilized and picked up the cat. They discovered that the “human” (and we use that term very loosely) had been keeping this sweet girl in a tiny bathroom with only a box for company. Piper was given no attention, affection, or opportunities for social interaction. That is the worst part of humanity in this story; the best part is what happened next.
Those amazing, dedicated rescuers drove Piper SEVEN HOURS one-way from northern California all the way down to our veterinarian, where she received a thorough check-up. After the thumbs-up from our awesome vet, Piper was brought to the Sanctuary. It took several months for Piper to slowly adjust; she would often be found hiding in the only thing that comforted her, a box. After a great deal of time, patience, and reassurance from the staff of Milo’s, she continues to get better and has begun interacting with humans as well as other cats.
Piper still gets easily overwhelmed due to her prolonged sensory and psychological deprivation; when this happens, she goes to her safe spot, a box (and there are always boxes available to her to retreat to as needed). She is a sweet girl who deserves all the love in the world, and she will always have a safe and loving home with us for as long as she lives.
It was a cold, rainy winter; threatening to put a blind cat outside was callous and cruel at any time, and this was made it even worse. We immediately contacted some fellow rescuers in northern California who swiftly mobilized and picked up the cat. They discovered that the “human” (and we use that term very loosely) had been keeping this sweet girl in a tiny bathroom with only a box for company. Piper was given no attention, affection, or opportunities for social interaction. That is the worst part of humanity in this story; the best part is what happened next.
Those amazing, dedicated rescuers drove Piper SEVEN HOURS one-way from northern California all the way down to our veterinarian, where she received a thorough check-up. After the thumbs-up from our awesome vet, Piper was brought to the Sanctuary. It took several months for Piper to slowly adjust; she would often be found hiding in the only thing that comforted her, a box. After a great deal of time, patience, and reassurance from the staff of Milo’s, she continues to get better and has begun interacting with humans as well as other cats.
Piper still gets easily overwhelmed due to her prolonged sensory and psychological deprivation; when this happens, she goes to her safe spot, a box (and there are always boxes available to her to retreat to as needed). She is a sweet girl who deserves all the love in the world, and she will always have a safe and loving home with us for as long as she lives.
