UNI

Uni’s Story – From Street Urchin to Unicorn<br/><br/>If ever a cat represented a true street urchin, it was Uni — a frail, delicate 5-pound intact male who spent three days in the garage of a Southeast-side resident after her husband found him collapsed in their yard. His eyes were crusted shut, thick discharge poured from his tiny nostrils, and he was emaciated, hypothermic, and on the verge of dying from starvation and illness.<br/><br/>Despite their best efforts over the weekend, he continued to decline. Thankfully (there truly are no words), she and I connected — and within an hour this five-year-old boy (likely born in early 2021) was in my hands.<br/><br/>Where do I even begin listing his ailments?<br/><br/>Hypothermia. Severe emaciation. Labored breathing. Eyes sealed shut with infection. Nostrils clogged with layers of pus. Deep ulcers covering his tongue from calicivirus. Advanced periodontal disease with severe inflammation throughout his mouth. Dehydration so profound he was essentially bone dry. And on top of it all — a heavy flea infestation.<br/><br/>Sedation was a risk, but one I had to take in order to begin correcting the long list of things going wrong. Even then, I suspected there was much more happening beneath the surface.<br/><br/>I was right.<br/>X-rays revealed an enlarged heart; this proved to be a direct complication of his respiratory infection and resolved overtime). Initial lab work didn’t immediately confirm the anemia I suspected due to his severe dehydration, but within a few days his red blood cell count plummeted. His white blood cell count was extremely elevated from infection, and his chemistry panel showed increased bilirubin — caused by an immune-mediated process where his body was destroying his own red blood cells.<br/><br/>On top of everything else, Uni tested positive for FIV — a virus that suppresses the immune system and was certainly working against him.<br/><br/>Time was critical. He had been ill for so long that even aggressive emergency treatment carried no guarantee of success.<br/><br/>Steroids, fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, vitamin B-12 injections, warming therapy, and intensive supportive care were started immediately.<br/>And somehow… he pulled through.<br/><br/>What a resilient, death-defying little soul.<br/><br/>The next two weeks were far from smooth. Uni experienced several setbacks — rear limb ataxia, sudden pulmonary edema (fluid in his lungs), an ear infection, and the need for surgery to remove most of his teeth. His chronic oral infection had likely contributed to his heart issues, so addressing it was essential for his recovery.<br/><br/>And yet, time and again, Uni defied the odds.<br/><br/>At his one-month recheck, the transformation was remarkable. His anemia had resolved. His oral infections were gone. The size of his heart had normalized. His weight had climbed from just 5 pounds to over 8. And perhaps most special of all — he finally began opening his eyes fully.<br/>Brightly.<br/>The eye infection had cleared within the first week, but he had been so frightened and overwhelmed that he rarely opened them. Now he looks around with curiosity — as if realizing, maybe for the first time, that the world can be a safe place.<br/><br/>We still have work ahead of us as he learns to feel comfortable in his own skin and gain confidence, but his progress is beautiful to watch. He’s beginning to relax, accept attention, and even spend time among the other feline residents — their calm presence helping him learn that he’s finally safe.<br/><br/>Uni has left his street-urchin days behind.<br/><br/>Now he’s our little Uni-corn — rare, unique, and extraordinary — with a strength and spirit that truly sets him <br/><br/>LONG AWAITED UPDATE 5-6-26:<br/><br/>What an absolutely precious boy he is! When he first arrived, he was scared of his own shadow and really wanted nothing to do with much of anything. Of course we were all thinking that he was going to be a tough nut to crack. As he started to feel better, and was making friends, he became an entirely different cat. He LOVES attention now, can be seen sprawled out on his favorite apple crates, and is everyone's pal. He still has his bashful moments, but is thriving here at the shelter. His coat is plush, and his serious little face makes him simply adorable!<br/><br/>A quieter home with a feline friend or two would be ideal for him. Please no kids under 10 or dogs. This boy deserves the world : )<br/><br/>What I wouldn't give to be able to scoop him up and take him home with me.

Uni’s Story – From Street Urchin to Unicorn

If ever a cat represented a true street urchin, it was Uni — a frail, delicate 5-pound intact male who spent three days in the garage of a Southeast-side resident after her husband found him collapsed in their yard. His eyes were crusted shut, thick discharge poured from his tiny nostrils, and he was emaciated, hypothermic, and on the verge of dying from starvation and illness.

Despite their best efforts over the weekend, he continued to decline. Thankfully (there truly are no words), she and I connected — and within an hour this five-year-old boy (likely born in early 2021) was in my hands.

Where do I even begin listing his ailments?

Hypothermia. Severe emaciation. Labored breathing. Eyes sealed shut with infection. Nostrils clogged with layers of pus. Deep ulcers covering his tongue from calicivirus. Advanced periodontal disease with severe inflammation throughout his mouth. Dehydration so profound he was essentially bone dry. And on top of it

Uni’s Story – From Street Urchin to Unicorn

If ever a cat represented a true street urchin, it was Uni — a frail, delicate 5-pound intact male who spent three days in the garage of a Southeast-side resident after her husband found him collapsed in their yard. His eyes were crusted shut, thick discharge poured from his tiny nostrils, and he was emaciated, hypothermic, and on the verge of dying from starvation and illness.

Despite their best efforts over the weekend, he continued to decline. Thankfully (there truly are no words), she and I connected — and within an hour this five-year-old boy (likely born in early 2021) was in my hands.

Where do I even begin listing his ailments?

Hypothermia. Severe emaciation. Labored breathing. Eyes sealed shut with infection. Nostrils clogged with layers of pus. Deep ulcers covering his tongue from calicivirus. Advanced periodontal disease with severe inflammation throughout his mouth. Dehydration so profound he was essentially bone dry. And on top of it all — a heavy flea infestation.

Sedation was a risk, but one I had to take in order to begin correcting the long list of things going wrong. Even then, I suspected there was much more happening beneath the surface.

I was right.
X-rays revealed an enlarged heart; this proved to be a direct complication of his respiratory infection and resolved overtime). Initial lab work didn