Then she met Buzz
WHEN A KIND PERSON LEFT out food for some outdoor cats, a tiny tabby kitten came to eat. She was just skin and bones, with a bad eye and a terrible cold to boot. The thoughtful animal lover brought the kitten — who was given the name Peyton — to the Best
Friends Animal Clinic at the Sanctuary, where she spent the next month healing.
Veterinarians found and removed the source of Peyton’s upper respiratory infection (a growth in her nasal passage), and she had surgery to remove the troublesome eye. Eventually, feeling so much better, Peyton was ready to move out of the clinic and start meeting people so she could get adopted. Because she had missed out on a lot of socialization time, however, that was an adjustment for the little kitten.
Peyton was shy and nervous when she moved to the Best Friends Visitor Center in town. She had never encountered so many new people, so she found a hiding spot and stayed there. One morning about a week later, though, staff found Peyton curled up with Buzz, another cat in her room. Buzz had been a bit of a loner, but he took to Peyton, even going so far as to groom and snuggle with her. He became a source of comfort for Peyton and she came out of hiding to cozy up with her new friend.
With her confidence blossoming, it didn’t take long for Peyton to attract an adopter. Jordan Ray took one look at the one-eyed kitten and, after a chat with staff, decided to take her home. Peyton has a brand new name (Ava) to go with her brand new life and, one day at a time, she’s settling in just fine.
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BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE May/June 2020