I'd been hearing about this kitten for 5-6 days before I saw her myself - One of 6 kittens born in the backyard of my mother's house in Queens to Ruby, the alpha female of the ferals.  She's just 4 weeks old, and an infection has ravaged her eyes. 

I went each day for a week trying to find her, but missed her every time.  Last night, 10/08/09, I finally caught up with her.  She was with her family, a tiny, beautiful calico kitten (red, white and black)  making a valiant effort to keep up with her brothers and sisters.  But she was falling behind, being elbowed out of the food, and clearly does NOT have what it takes to live a feral life. 

I scooped her up, and took her to the emergency vet.  She was feral for about five minutes.  When she realized I was not going to hurt her, her tiny, cold paws curled gently around my finger, and she melted.  She so needed to be rescued. 

While she appears basically healthy, the prognosis for her eyes is uncertain.  The vet says it is possible that there could be normal eyes under all that swelling.  It will take a week to see if the meds will save them.  Meantime, this baby girl needs more than anyone in my circle can give.  She needs a patient, gentle person with time and a tender hand.  She needs meds 3x a day and to know the world and people are safe. Right now she's with my aunt, who is 83, half blind herself, and hardly able to see the medicine bottle.   That can't last.  The shelters.... all full.  She can't go back with her family.  If we can't place her within a day or two... well... 

We'd rather see her get a chance. 

If you're thinking you'd love to open your home and heart, but a  potentially blind kitten is too much for you, take it from my friend Penny, whose Ben was the love of her life, and the smartest cat she ever had.   A blind cat can be as normal as a seeing one.  Ben amazed her every day with his affection, abilities and intelligence.   He got around just as well as a seeing cat, and even moved with her several times.  He always adjusted beautifully. 

Of course blindness and deafness are apples and oranges, but don't forget, your very own Crazy Johnny, the star of this cartoon, is deaf.  Smartest, biggest personality you ever want (or didn't want) to meet.

But you know what, even if they're not super intelligent, not profoundly beautiful, not the life of the party, or special in any way, it's the one that needs you the most that takes the biggest piece of your heart.

Please, consider giving this precious baby girl a chance.  And if you can't do it yourself, please forward this on to someone who may.  If you can help, write: jane@thepridecartoon ASAP.  Reference this article in the subject box.

PS:  My grandmother always said a calico kitten is good luck for the family who adopts her.