Rescue Tail / Kaycee

Rescue Tail / Kaycee

With his orange stripes and green eyes, soft meow and affinity for head butts and hugs Kaycee was one cool cat. From the moment he entered our doors at our Marathon Campus in 2019 he instantly became a staff and volunteer favorite. At nearly 17 pounds Kaycee was a large snuggly cat. However big and snuggly he was on the outside, it was his weight that was causing problems on the inside. Kaycee was surrendered to us due to unmanaged diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body can not properly respond to the hormone insulin. The most important risk factors identified for the development of diabetes in cats include obesity, increasing age, physical inactivity and being male in gender. Obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes than ideal weight cats. Kaycee checked all the boxes. With age and weight he slowly started exercising less and the path to diabetes had already begun.

By the time Kaycee was surrendered he was struggling with the side effects of diabetes. With his owner no longer able to regulate his insulin, his owner felt that the best option for Kaycee would be to find him a new family who could better care for his needs.

Step one was a glucose curve and regulating his blood sugar with a proper diet and consistent insulin. With the right care Kaycee slowly started improving in his overall physical health and wellbeing. He was a happy, well adjusted cat who soon became our office cat and Marathon Campus unofficial mascot. Though there is no cure for feline diabetes, the prognosis for a good quality of life is good with adequate management at home. Now, all Kaycee needed was that special someone who would care for, and love him forever.

It would be a year and a half later that Kaycee’s person would be found. When Kathryn lost her beloved companion she didn’t think she would be ready for another animal in her life. As time ticked on she realized there was an empty spot in her home and heart and it could only be filled by a furry friend. When she came to our shelter to meet our cats she was hesitant at first due to his medical needs. With one big hug from the big orange cat and some encouragement she decided she was capable of caring for Kaycee and we all celebrated on his adoption day!

Now that a few weeks have passed she shared this wonderful update. “Kaycee has saved both of us. He is a very special guy. He went from “this is a nice cat” to “OMG I love this cat” at warp speed. He gets plenty of hugs and pettings all day long.  He sleeps with me at night, on the other pillow next to my head. I can’t imagine life without him.  I will take very good care of him, I promise. Thank you for taking such good care of him until I showed up.” Although we certainly miss his snuggles here at the shelter we couldn’t be happier for Kaycee and his new mom.