Cats for Adoption: Meet Spike and a Very Special Person

March 10, 2014March 17, 2014 Bernadette

This pretty gray and white cat is looking for a home. Spike is currently cared for by a pretty special person who has to give her up.

woman with cat — Spike has something to say about this!

Spike’s human, Karen, just had her caretaker snap this photo so you could see what a nice cat Spike is, and get to know Karen herself just a little.You may not notice anything unusual about Karen in this photo, just a nice woman with a big smile holding a cat who has something to say.

In 1988 Karen developed bacterial meningitis, a rare form called meningococcal meningitis, which is nearly always fatal, and always devastating. Within days of feeling a little cold she was in a coma in the hospital with a fever of 109 degrees and had lost her legs, a hand and the fingers on the other to stop the spread of gangrene. Her recovery was long and arduous, but Karen has the most amazing attitude and learned to not only take care of most things for herself but also to live outside of a care unit, and she’s not shy about leaving the house.

And she can cuddle a kitty just fine!

You can read more about her illness and recovery in this 2002 story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Currently Karen lives in a large adapted Victorian home south of Pittsburgh but has to move to an apartment where pets are not permitted. Spike was actually rescued by her son from a girl he worked with that was giving kittens away for free, but he has been working as a coal miner in Ohio which is why Spike is living with mom. They’ve really exhausted all other possibilities for a home for Spike, and before Karen moves in mid-April she’d like to see Spike in at least a foster home.

About Spike

Spike is two years old and spayed—despite her manly name she’s a girl—and is current on her vaccines, though she’ll be due for them soon. She got along fine with Karen’s dog, who died last summer, and with caretakers working with Karen and coming in and out Spike has been fine with other people. Spike is described as “very independent” and “doesn’t like belly rubbed, she has to be in the mood.”

Karen has a wheelchair van and they will be happy to take Spike wherever she needs to go in the Pittsburgh area; outside of that, we’ll see what we can do. Currently she’s in South Fayette, south of Pittsburgh. If you think you can give Spike a home, please contact me.

All photos courtesy Karen Marchetti.

Now who else is looking for a home? Browse a few more rescued cats and kittens!

All photos courtesy the kittens’ foster homes.

Can’t adopt? Foster! Can’t foster? Donate or volunteer.

There are so many ways you can help cats who need homes and care. You may not have room to adopt another cat, but can foster a cat or kitten for a few weeks. If not that, you can volunteer at a shelter or with a rescue, or donate. You do this because you love your cat, and by doing so you help all cats. No matter which of these actions you take, you help to save a life, and make life better for all cats.

Adopt one of the cats I’ve posted here, or from any shelter or rescue near you, or from Petfinder, to open up a space for another cat to be rescued and fostered.
Offer to foster cats or kittens for a shelter or rescue near you.
Volunteer at a shelter or rescue.
Find a group of volunteers who work with homeless cats and help them with their efforts.
Donate to a shelter or rescue near you.

If you can foster kittens or adults cats to help prepare them for a forever home, please run to your nearest shelter and find a cat who needs you! Anyone can help with this effort at any level, even if all you do is donate to a shelter or rescue so they can help to pay for the food or medications needed for their foster, or the spay/neuter/veterinary care during a clinic.

Need to know more? Read Fostering for Your Shelter and Fostering Saves Lives

Help Homeless Cats and Caretakers, Get a Gift Certificate!

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.