LIEUTENANT NUBBINS Tabby & Domestic Short Hair Mix Grand Rapids, MI

There are messes, and then there are hot messes: this guy right here was actually scorching when he arrived from Orleans, MI on July 28, 2014. Resident Katherine K. found this beyond-bedraggled, beat up and worn down fella just in the nick of time, as his laundry list of issues were piling up faster than he could handle them. Let me elaborate for you:

- his left eye had previously been damaged, so that a torn lower eyelid and central corneal scar remained, distorting the eye and impeding his vision a bit due to the resultant haziness on the surface

- he was so heavily loaded with fleas that his body was peppered with scabs and scales

- although he weighed in at 11 pounds, his body was malnourished and he was actually underweight for his frame

- he was plagued with raging diarrhea that was causing him to dehydrate

- all of his canine teeth were badly broken, either half-way off or down to the gum line

- his ears, or shall I say what was left of his poor, pathetic appendages were so crumpled and cauliflowered from YEARS of him pawing and scratching at them that only minute, mangled nubs remained. And, both of his ear drums had ruptured, resulting in a nasty middle-ear infection as well

- he tested very strong positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus); he was an intact male, so no big surprise there considering what abhorrent condition he was in upon arrival.

So as you can plainly see, freckle-faced Lt. Nubbins was in dire need of many of my medical services. Thankfully this fella, born in the summer of 2009, cleaned up nicely, internally as well as externally, and within hours of waking up from his surgical/spa treatments, he was feeling immeasurably better! In spite of all that bothered this beautiful boy, nothing seemed to get him down, which is remarkable in and of itself. From the get-go, he was as affectionate and attention-seeking as possible, delighting in gentle rubbin's behind the nubbins and chin scritching too! He wanted nothing to do with being caged in our intake suite at the clinic, preferring to follow me around the room as I did my cat care chores. And once at Big Sid's, he felt that he was up to the task of tackling his new two story abode, so once our photographer snapped his ID picture, the Lieutenant was on the loose and loving every minute of it!

I don't really need to tell you how completely and hopelessly we all fell in love with this guy, but I will, because we did! Not only are we enchanted by his charm and his willingness and need to bestow affection on those around him, but we are in absolute awe of his strength and fortitude in the face of what had to seem like insurmountable odds. He is, in a word, amazing!