A cat showed joy for the first time when he experienced kindness after years of a hard-knock life.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
Having spent most of his life roaming the streets, Blackjack, the cat, came to a balcony, hoping to find warmth and comfort.
He thought he’d hit the jackpot when a young woman took him home, but he ended up in a hoarding situation. With his ailments untreated, he began to deteriorate. One day, several volunteer rescuers banded together to rescue ten cats from the crowded home, and Blackjack was one of them.
When they found Blackjack, he couldn’t open his eyes. But from that moment on, his life was about to change for the better.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
“He was brought to us in Montreal in poor condition, covered in filth with his nose and eyes blocked due to an infection,” Chatons Orphelins Montreal shared. “Despite everything, he wolfed down his food because he was so hungry.”
He was treated for an upper respiratory infection and spent most of his time resting and healing.
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For a while, Blackjack was quite withdrawn, rarely leaving his spot and sleeping his days away. “As he regained strength, his foster family noticed he had a limp when he walked.”
They headed back to the vet, where they discovered Blackjack needed far more care than anyone had anticipated.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
“Though he’d recovered from his cold, his eyes remained painful and closed due to entropion, which caused his eyelids to roll inward. Additionally, he had multiple infected teeth that needed to be extracted.”
With the community’s support, Blackjack underwent an eyelid surgery and a full dental. Even with a few teeth left, he felt brand new.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
“We were finally able to see him with his eyes open when his stitches were removed.”
After many challenging years, Blackjack struggled to trust people, but his foster family never stopped trying to win him over. “Given his long recovery, we were eager for him to start socialization and learn to live without stress.”
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
“We showed him that he was no longer alone and that the worst was behind him.”
His foster dad spent ample time with him in the room, trying to coax him with his favorite treats. Slowly but surely, Blackjack emerged from his “cave” and showed interest in his surroundings.
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“With positive reinforcement, he started making soft meows whenever his people approached him with food and gently placed his paw on their hand.”
His slight limp, a remnant of an old injury that healed crookedly, doesn’t hinder him from living a good life. Though unable to jump like other cats, he navigates his world with remarkable resilience. To everyone’s surprise, he is also deaf, but it doesn’t faze him in the slightest.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
As Blackjack grew confident with his humans, he gradually ventured into the rest of the house. When he noticed other cats, his face lit up, and his affectionate nature came out. “He meows and wants to be friends with the cats in the house.”
He follows them on their adventures, exploring every nook and cranny and watching Cat TV on the screen.
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At seven years old, Blackjack has been through it all. He is deaf, FIV+, and walks with a slight limp, but he is a beautiful soul, eager for affection and good company.
“He has come out of his shell since his arrival and continues to make progress each day.”
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
The once-timid, scruffy cat has blossomed into a stunning house panther with a fluffy coat. He revels in his new life with feline friends and sleeps soundly every night, knowing he’s safe and loved.
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