- A 9-year-old cat with a medical condition that causes seizures is looking for a home.
- The cat is the longest resident at Dutchess County SPCA in New York, where she arrived 2 years ago.
An animal shelter in New York says the cat that's lived there the longest hasn't found a home because people often "balk" at her medical condition.
A 9-year-old black cat named Annie is one of 99 cats being cared for at Dutchess County SPCA, a no-kill animal shelter in Dutchess County, New York, a spokesperson for the shelter told Insider.
Annie had "dramatic episodes" of chasing and biting her tail for "no apparent reason" when she arrived at the shelter two years ago, according to a press release the shelter sent to Insider.
The Dutchess County SPCA spokesperson told Insider that after multiple tests, Annie was diagnosed with Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS), a neurological disorder that causes small focal seizures.
Annie's symptoms were aligned with those caused by FHS, which include self-mutilation of the tail area, drooling, and excessive vocalization, the spokesperson said.
Although FHS was initially suspected, the shelter's veterinary team had to conduct several tests to rule out other conditions, the spokesperson said.
In order to diagnose FHS, also commonly known as Hyperesthesia, vets must identify or rule out any alternative conditions that could be causing the cat pain, such as spinal arthritis, or skin problems including parasites, allergies, and fungal infections, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Annie was given medication that treats seizures in cats and dogs after she was diagnosed, the shelter's spokesperson told Insider.
"Her self-inflicted tail injuries have all healed and her true temperament now shows through," they said. "She now asks for cuddles and enjoys the enrichment we've been giving her like her treats, toys, and a sunny spot by the window all on her own."
Potential adopters are wary of Annie's condition, the shelter says
"Anyone casually looking for an easy pet cat would probably not make Annie their first choice, no matter how loveable she is," the shelter's spokesperson said, speaking of how potential adopters "balk" at the cat's FHS diagnosis. "And she is loveable — she's a wonderful cat who just needs a little more help."
The spokesperson noted that anyone considering adopting Annie should be aware that there would be additional expenses, as she has to be given medication twice a day for the rest of her life. However, they noted that Annie has displayed no resistance to taking the medication so far.
Annie's situation is not unusual. In April, People reported that a 13-year-old cat was almost put down because its former owner didn't know how to deal with a common litter-box issue.
The blue-point Himalayan cat arrived at Dutchess County SPCA in December after her former owner had requested she be euthanized at a veterinary clinic because she wasn't using her litter box, the publication added.
The veterinary clinic asked the shelter to take the cat, after which they discovered she had urinary crystals, an issue that can be resolved with a simple diet change, according to People. There are a number of methods that vets recommend to decrease urinary crystals, including increasing water intake, regulating urine pH, and encouraging your cat to urinate more regularly, as the VCA Animal Hospitals website explains.
As for Annie, the shelter's spokesperson said her potential "pet parent" should be an animal lover with a quiet home who is dedicated to learning about the cat's condition.
The spokesperson said the right person "will relish the special rewards that come with helping a senior, special needs animal," including "the special love and devotion that animal will give them, and the satisfaction of providing a happy existence for a pet that has been overlooked by others."
"We are just waiting for Annie's special person to find her," they added.