Irene Domestic Short Hair Encinitas, CA

*** Irene is in a foster home. ***

Solid gray, short hair, spayed female, born approx. 1/1/17, #18973

Cats: best solo, only calm cats
Dogs: best no dogs, only calm cat-savvy
Children: gentle 12+

Driving down a busy street one day a woman saw a cat in the middle of the road staring up at the sky. As she approached the cat she realized it was blind. She gently picked the cat up, brought her home, and then reached out to The Rescue House for help. Irene had a lot of medical things to deal with in the beginning: despite her age, she hadn't been spayed, and severe dental disease meant almost all of her teeth needed to be removed. Then there were her eyes: since they never developed and were very small, Irene had been blind since birth, but her eyelids had turned into the eye socket and adhered to the actual eyeballs. The surgeries were difficult ones, but once her medical issues were dealt with she began to behave more like a cat. We can only imagine that between her eyes and her mouth she had been in a lot of pain.

Once Irene was feeling better, she blossomed! She is a gentle and loving cat. Because she is a bit older and has no vision, she's a little more reserved, but given the right item she can be playful: she favors crumpled paper balls as well as random toys to chase. Irene will sit on cat trees, sofas, or other furniture, but will only go as far up as she feels she can safely get down on her own. Once she goes up something the first time, she figures out the distance and is fine getting up and down on her own. But her true pastime is being around her person. Irene likes to stay near you, and she'll be waiting outside the shower door for you to emerge (likely sitting on the toilet-she needs someone to always keep the lid down!). She'll sit quietly next to you on the couch enjoying pets and attention and will allow holding for short periods of time. She still has the habit of gazing skyward.

In foster care, Irene lives with other cats of various ages and an older cat-savvy dog. It would be best if Irene was an only pet. However, if there is another cat in her forever home it needs to be one that will respect her and not be aggressive or overly playful as she can't see a cat coming at her. Likewise children under the age of 12 years would not be a good fit. A dog would need to be gentle and quiet.

Irene has been through so much; she deserves a home that will love and care for her forever! Will you welcome this very special girl and let her sweet companionship enrich your life?