They said they had found this cat near the freeway and didn't know what to do with it. They explained they thought the kitty was injured and that they tried to give it to the pet store but the "lady" said they couldn't take it.
I spoke soothingly to the cat and offered to give it a head rub and scratch. The cat reached toward my hand, showed me a glimpse of its eyes, and offered its belly. The cat looked a bit Siamese at first glance... a brownish color with blue eyes.
I asked the kids if I could take the cat from them and that I would make sure the cat got to where it needed to be. The poor kids were agreeable, relieved, and grateful.
The cat was taken to the vet and multiple unsuccessful scans for chips was completed. The cat's injuries were cleaned, treated, and an antibiotic injection administered. The injuries included grease and dirt matted into her coat, completely burnt paw pads on both front feet, multiple abrasions throughout the body, and a few significant punctures. The cat handled the treatment with interest but did not fight anything.
The vet deemed the cat a female Siamese mix, about 3 years old, and spayed. Her name was officially logged with the vet as Freeway.
I was advised to keep her quiet for a few days. The vet thought it was doubtful that she would make it but if she was still alive in 4-5 days, to bring her back in for the standard vaccines but to keep her separated from other animals in the meantime.
I took her home and put her under an upside down pack and play in a spare bathroom to keep her separated from my other cat, Tessa. I gently wiped her down with a slightly damp cloth and placed her on a blanket. Several times a day, I sat in the bathroom and read a book out loud to her an hour or so at a time, offered soft food and water, and would lift her into the litter tray to potty.
She seemed to look forward to my visits but remained quiet for 2 full days.
I called the vet on the morning of the 3rd day and explained that I would like to bring Freeway in for the rabies vaccines, etc. They asked if the cat was active and doing ok. I said OH YES!!!.... she was ready to get out... now!
Her arrival at the vets office shocked every single person in the office. She was well, hearty, happy, and ready to play. She was loving and happy and unbelievably good-natured. But the biggest surprise was that she was snow white with a luxuriously thick coat and the most amazing aqua eyes.
She was given the vaccines and I was advised to continue to keep her separated from our other cat for another 24 hours.
Oh my goodness.... I was so glad when that 24 hours was over. I asked the vet again about her age because I thought as playful as she was, she had to be younger. They were sure she was about 3 years old based on the exam.
Over the next weeks, I discovered Freeway was like no other cat I had ever been around. She wanted to be near me all the time. Freeway craved attention. She wanted to play all the time. It was like having a toddler in the house. Everything was a game and she wanted to play with anything that moved. And her eyes... not blue.. they were aqua.
Research kept leading me back to Tonkinese based on her personality, her deceptively heavy weight, her eye color, etc. Although I learned she was most likely not purebred, it seems she may have somehow managed to squeak out some of the traits.
And my love for Tonkinese cats began!
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