‘I CAN’T IMAGINE OUR LIVES WITHOUT HIM’
Special-needs pets worth extra costs, owners say
When a few-months-old deaf kitten came to the Ottawa Humane Society, his ears were riddled with mites and packed with debris, his small head tilted severely to the right as a result of his infection.
The shelter, uncertain about what his ailments meant for his future, named him Chance because it wanted him to give the best possible “chance” of adoption. That was last year. While some might have balked at taking in the special needs kitten, Elizabeth Wheeler and her husband, Craig, jumped at the opportunity.
“We brought him home and he is just the most affectionate cat I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Elizabeth said.
“Every single day, since he was a little kitten, he nuzzles up right into my shoulder and he’ll actually suckle and knead my hair. He’s just so quirky in his mannerisms.”
Elizabeth, who works in the humane society’s foster department, said she went into the adoption expecting the costs of Chance’s upkeep to be high.
Mites had eaten away at his ears, scarring his right eardrum, rupturing the other and likely causing his deafness. Elizabeth was warned Chance would require ongoing medication, frequent vet visits and surgery — soon.
The last part turned out to be true. Chance was adopted last Nov. 26, and required immediate surgery less than a week later, when a surgeon at an animal hospital in Alta Vista scooped out the infection in his ear. The whole process cost $4,000. Miraculously, despite all the initial warnings from the shelter, Chance has had a clean bill of health ever since. He’s still got a small head tilt as a result of the infection, and his ears occasionally flare up, but no major health issues persist for the now year-and-ahalf-old cat.
“Since then, his quality of life is perfect. He hasn’t had any problems,” Elizabeth said. “The head tilt is slowly resolving. When he jumps off things, he’ll have to jump off of them sideways. He’ll aim to go straight, but he’ll go sideways!”
While Chance’s deafness doesn’t allow him to wander outside without supervision, it has bestowed him with some unique quirks.
“He meows louder than he should because he can’t hear himself,” Elizabeth said. “Deaf cats are just so adorable. He doesn’t mind the vacuum cleaner. He’ll actually try and play with it.”
To people thinking of adopting a special-needs animal, but worried about medical costs or the commitment it takes to care for the pet, Elizabeth said the benefits far outweigh the costs.
“You get so much more back than you give to these special animals,” she said. “With Chance, I can’t imagine our lives without him. He has truly enriched it.”
A standout day with Chance was at the humane society’s Wiggle Waggle Walkathon this September. Chance, a cat in a stroller at a mainly dog affair, was one of the stars of the event.
“It was probably one of the best days of our lives, to be honest! Just seeing how happy he was and seeing everyone fawn over him. It kind of restores your faith in humanity to see so many people so excited to see a cat.”