# Gimpy kitty needs new home **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895 "2009-09-13T06:04:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/1 "2009-09-13T06:04:18Z")
About three weeks ago, the vet techs at my clinic found [this kitty](http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6117/22924408.jpg) shuffling around in the bushes. She was covered with so many fleas, she was anemic, and her white fur was stained brown. She was so thin, you could feel every bony ridge of her spine, like a skeleton in a fur blanket. At the time, we couldn’t tell if she had trouble walking because there was actually something wrong with her, or if she just didn’t have the strength. She had abrasions on her legs from whacking herself. Since she was FIV and FeLV negative, I didn’t have the heart to euthanize her when all she might need is a few more calories and a few fewer fleas. Good flea control and a big bowl of food later, and [she is](http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4018/video1500m03s.jpg) [much better](http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/999/video1500m04s.jpg). [Her walking has improved](http://img190.imageshack.us/i/vid00212.mp4/), but it is clear now that she has Manx Neuropathy: the genetics that kept her from growing a proper tail also screwed with the nerves for her legs, which run near the base of the tail. Fortunately, the nerves that control her anal and urethral sphincters, which also run nearby, are fine. So, she is perfectly litter trained so long as the box is big enough for her to get in. Judging by her teeth, she’s about 5 years old. It is clear that she had a home at one point: a cat with her walking problems would not have survived as a feral for long, as her condition when we found her proves. However, she does not like other cats. My cats have been nothing but civil to her, and she continues to hiss and spit every time she catches sight of one. It’s created a divide in the house. She needs to go to a new, permanent home, but everyone I know already has other kitties. Anyone in the Seattle area need a kitty? She’ll never steal food off the kitchen counter or lay across your computer keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/2 "2009-09-13T06:12:18Z")
I live across the country and have several cats already so I can’t take her, but I wanted to wish you good luck in finding her a home. She’s a lovely kitty, and it’s so wonderful your clinic found her when you did; I’m no vet but from your description, it sounds like she was just about at the end of her rope. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/3 "2009-09-17T01:12:14Z")
One bump. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/4 "2009-09-17T17:47:27Z")
Oh, she tugs at my heart. Thanks for saving her. I hope she finds a good home soon; it sounds like she’s been through a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/5 "2009-09-17T18:12:05Z")
Aww. Sweet kitty. We’re full up on cats, but I’m sure she’ll find a good home. Thank you for helping her! ---
**Author:** ![AKA\_Lisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@AKA\_Lisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AKA_Lisa)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/6 "2009-09-18T02:06:43Z")
Aw, I’d take her in a heartbeat if you were in Maine. I hope she finds a great home. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/7 "2009-09-18T02:13:27Z")
Oh geeze, I can’t afford another cat and she wouldn’t be happy moving in with my two, but I wish her all the best. ---
**Author:** ![St.Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@St.Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Anger)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/8 "2009-09-18T02:18:42Z")
I rescued two kittens this summer, both cute as buttons, and can’t get takers. I have too many as it is. As my wife is fond of saying, it’s easier to sell someone on getting herpes than it is to get them to take a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/9 "2009-09-18T13:47:18Z")
I would take her if I lived closer (wanna ship her?) ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gimpy-kitty-needs-new-home/509895/10 "2009-09-20T06:01:32Z")
Thanks for the well-wishes. **Poyson** , may have to take you up on that shipping idea. 😉 Going to call around one last time to see if her original owners are looking for her (if they aren’t idiots). Failing that, it’s off to the shelter where she’ll at least have a better shot at being adopted now than when we first found her. Cheers.