Update, 9/22/10: Linus has been adopted – and so has Fruit Bat! (You can follow the latter’s recovery here, in fact.)

Linus the orange and white, domestic medium hair cat stares into the camera. His left eye is slightly smaller than his right due to a healed/healing eye infection. Photo courtesy No More Homeless Pets KC.
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This week’s featured adoptable hails from No More Homeless Pets KC, which is located in Merriam, Kansas. At just eight months of age, Linus has already seen some tough times. This little guy has survived an upper respiratory infection (trumping his veterinarian’s prognosis), both eyes intact (whereas, at one point, Linus’s vet had considered removing the left eye, as badly infected as it was), thankyouverymuch. On top of all this, dear Linus suffered the loss of his family, who could not afford to pay for his medical care. Methinks this lil’ guy deserves some shiny happy news for a change; if you agree, keep reading for details and please consider giving Linus the most precious gift of all – a loving, caring, forever home.

Linus
Domestic Medium Hair – Orange And White
Medium | Young | Male | Cat | Pet ID: EL

Little Linus lounges on the back of a couch, fluffy tail draped lazily over its side. So cozy! Photo courtesy No More Homeless Pets KC.
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Linus came into a shelter when he was a tiny kitten with his eyes infected and matted shut. His owner could not afford to take him to a vet and the shelter was already full, but he was so tiny and cute that our rescue group took on the responsibility of his medical care. He had a horrible Upper Respiratory Infection (kitty cold), but was so young and little that the vets did not give him a very good chance of surviving. He was tough though! And he had a huge appetite – would eat and eat wet kitten food, even though he was barely old enough to have his baby teeth.

The URI had severely affected his eyes and he required a long course of antibiotics and eye ointment. He recovered from the URI, and continued to grow and grow! He’s a big boy – kinda chunky! He’s only approx 8 months old and already over 10 lbs. He’s turned into quite a beautiful cat with medium length orange & white hair that is very soft, like rabbit fur, and look at that beautiful tail! He’s full of personality and is very loving. He’s still young so he likes to play with the other cats in foster care, but will sit in your lap and purrrr.

He does have some lasting damage to his left eye in that it looks a little smaller than the right eye, and tends to tear up more. The cornea is clear so the vet thinks his vision out if it is just fine. The vet had considered taking the eye out when he was younger since it had been so badly infected, and it’s been a battle, but the eye was saved . He’s such a great cat it was all worth it! Contact his foster mom at lafoela99 [at] yahoo.com if you’d like more information about his medical history.

Please CLICK HERE to fill out an adoption application. One of our volunteers will get back to you within 24 hours.

Or contact lafoela99 [at] yahoo.com if you’d like more information on this pet.

Also -

- and I don’t usually post solicitations for donations, but this is quite possibly the saddest thing ever! (Well, except for the oil spill. And the Conklin Dairy Farm investigation. And the recent blow-up in Gaza. Still.) –

- Fruit Bat.

Meet Fruit Bat. She is a small, white-and-yellow chihuahua, with a tiny, bat-shaped head and everlasting smile – and two broken hind legs. Here, she sits up and smiles for the camera. Her back legs, which are encased in two large white-and-peach casts, extend out awkwardly under her. Can you help raise the $1500 to $2000 needed to repair Fruit Bat’s ankles – and save her life? Image courtesy Black & Orange Cat Foundation. (Click through to see more pictures of this adorable little girl!)
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Robin Craft of Black & Orange Cat Foundation describes Fruit Bat’s rescue and medical needs:

Fruit Bat was found lying in the median of a very busy road. No one slowed down to check on the little dog as she cowered in pain, back legs unable to move, on the hot pavement. Cars whizzed by for twelve hours before a good samaritan from Colony Cats stopped to investigate and found the tiny chihuahua. The kind hearted volunteer quickly rushed Fruit Bat to Noah’s Ark Vet Hospital in Dublin, where Dr. Kim West proceeded to do a physical exam.

Fruit Bat’s back ankles were both fractured, causing the little dog’s immobility. Other than that, however, the chihuahua with the big eyes and perpetual smile, was in good shape. Dr. West discovered that Fruit Bat was only two years old and had not been spayed. On further investigation, it also became clear that Fruit Bat had an old fracture to the bone of her front leg, a fracture which had healed without medical care. Wherever this sweet girl came from, it was not the best place.

Because the volunteer who found Fruit Bat was with Colony Cats, the group was more than willing to help the little girl. Only there was one problem. A problem that often occurs in rescue–the little problem of money. Fruit Bat’s surgeries to repair her broken ankle bones must be done at Ohio State–Dr. West cannot do that herself. And so, the cost for Fruit Bat to walk again is between $1500-2000 and Colony Cats just cannot afford to pay that much.

Dr. West took it upon herself to raise the money for Fruit Bat’s surgeries and she asked us if we would help. Dr. West is also going to act as Fruit Bat’s foster after the surgeries, taking care of her dressings and helping her with rehabilitative therapy.

Without the necessary surgery, Fruit Bat will not be able to walk again; in fact, she may have to be euthanized. Please, please consider making a donation to help fund Fruit Bat’s surgery – no matter how small – and spread the word, too. You can find additional details – including at least three ways to contribute financially – at the Black & Orange Cat Foundation.

Finally, once she’s recovered from surgery, Fruit Bat will need a forever home. She’s currently located in Ohio, which is most likely too far a drive for most Kansas Citians. However, if you know of a friend, family member, acquaintance or even a friend-of-a-friend in the area who is looking for a small, friendly dog to adopt, please tell them about little Fruit Bat. According to her foster family, she’s good with both dogs and cats, and is most definitely a people per(fur?)son.

And yes, for the record, I do find bats (including fruit bats) unbearably adorable. Viva la Fruit Bat!

Update, 6/12/10: Here’s a post-op update on Fruit Bat, complete with photos of the dear (shaven) girl and her new casts! Her rescuers are still trying to raise money to help pay for her care, so please donate what/if you can.

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Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of abused, neglected and/or homeless non-human animals in the Kansas City (and surrounding) area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal companion.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry, feathered or scaled friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables (complete with adoption updates!).

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Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle kansas ks missouri mo kcmo kcks featured adoptables animal adoption animal rescue petfinder pet companion animal nonhuman companion furkid cat feline kitten dog canine linus fruit bat domestic medium hair orange tabby No More Homeless Pets KC merriam ohio special needs fundraiser donate Black & Orange Cat Foundation chihuahua Colony Cats Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital