News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Special-needs cats seem to seek out Sisters resident Robyn Holdman, president of Citizens4Community. Holdman and her husband, John, have been pet parents to three special-needs cats since 1990.
Two years ago, Holdman and her husband found an emaciated male cat lying on their property on Harrington Loop in Sisters just days before a big snowstorm that dumped over three feet in February 2014.
"I had a hunch that this was not a stray cat, as it was too beautiful to be on its own," Holdman said. "I finally was able to get close to it and discovered that it was real thin and seemed very weak. I took off my warm coat and was able to wrap the cat in it. I drove it to Broken Top Veterinary Clinic where Dr. Bailey examined him."
Broken Top identified the cat as a purebred Bengal and immediately determined that he was dehydrated, had ear mites and then upon further examination determined that the cat was also blind.
"I asked Dr. Bailey to do whatever it took to save the cat," Holman said. "I left the cat with the clinic and knocked on the doors of neighbors near where we'd found the cat. No one knew anyone with a Bengal cat."
But when Holdman stopped in at Sisters Veterinarian Clinic and inquired about a Bengal cat, they told her about a breeder that lived in the area.
Holdman informed the vet, and Dr. Bailey called the breeder and learned that one of their cats had gotten out of the cattery at least 10 days prior.
The young Bengal cat had been wandering the area for 10 days.
"Dr. Bailey asked the owners if they knew that their cat was blind, and they denied that he was blind and demanded his return," Holdman told The Nugget. "Dr. Bailey discouraged them from breeding him as the blindness could be a genetic problem, as Bengals can become blind due to retinal atrophy."
Dr. Bailey let the owner know that Holdman adopted special-needs animals and would be willing to take care of him for the rest of his life.
The following day the cat breeder went to the vet clinic, picked up the cat and took him home.
"On Monday the breeder called me to let me know that yes, the cat was blind. She decided that she would let me keep him, as long as I promised to get him fixed and to not breed him," Holdman said. "This was an expensive decision on her part. I did not have to pay anything for him. I was excited, but a little nervous. We had another special-needs cat for two years named Pumpkin that passed away from cancer the October before. Pumpkin was a three-legged cat and was blind in one eye, and I still missed him."
Holdman went to pick up the cat with a determination to make his life the best it could possibly be. She decided to name him Harrington, because they found him on Harrington Loop Road.
Nobody knows why Harrington went blind during the 10 days that he was missing.
"Harrington had some serious health issues," remembered Holdman. "His ears were filled with mites and he was very weak. He was suffering from feline tritrichomonas foetus parasitic infection. Cats and kittens from shelters and catteries are at high risk of contracting the intestinal parasite that causes long-term diarrhea.
"We would delay getting him neutered until we were able to get him healthy," Holdman explained. "I brought him home and set up his own safe area in our guest apartment above our shop. I slept in the apartment to monitor him. He ate, slept, and grew stronger each day. He started out in the bathroom, and then expanding his territory to the bedroom and after several weeks took over the entire 800-square-foot apartment."
The Holmans also have other furry friends, a senior blue heeler and an elderly cat name Marble that Robyn rescued from Central Oregon Humane Society 13 years ago when Marble had pneumonia.
Harrington, who is now 4 years old, gets to run, play, and jump in a safe environment. All of his toys, beds, and cat condos are set up in a certain way, and he knows the lay of his land. The Holdmans keep him company on a daily basis.
"He loves to stalk things and to play. He loves to be rubbed and petted on his terms. His favorite play time now includes chasing a feather on a stick, hiding in paper sacks, and chasing a feather duster around and around on the bed. He enjoys jumping up into a window and sitting there with the window open, listening to the sounds outside."
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