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If there is one thing you should know about Fennel, it is that she is a survivor! However, there is so much more to learn about this gorgeous and feisty tortie young female.
Fennel is a shining of example of "tortitude." She can often be seen at the scene of the crime -- wherever there's chaos, there's bound to be Fennel. Despite this, she is an exceptionally loving cat towards humans and even now as an adult, enjoys being held, carried, and will never say no to a shoulder ride.
Midway through December of 2023, we did Fennel's intake. She and her sisters presented as perfectly normal 12 week old kittens. However, while they quickly completed their quarantine, vetting, and went on to get adopted right awake, she began showing concerning symptoms.
For months, we sought out different vet opinions for her and cycled through several treatment options. She'd regain her appetite, her fever would diminish, and we'd dare to hope that we were finally out of the woods with her. But it never lasted long, and she repeatedly worsened, a vicious cycle that we began dreading. We were at the end of our rope, unsure of what exactly was wrong but also unwilling to continue to let her suffer. Difficult conversations that we dread ever having to broach were on the horizon as she fell more ill than ever.
And then...she just stopped getting worse. Her appetite held for over a week. She ceased showing her 3rd eyelid. Her fever broke and stayed broken. She started purring again. We made an appointment with one more vet and held out hope that this was it.
And it was!
At this final vet appointment, we were given what amounts to a diagnosis of exclusion of bacterial pneumonia which is very rare for cats to have. The vet explained that with the symptoms Fennel experienced, any other possible diagnosis or illness would require her having passed away on her own by now. The fact that she was improving on her own combined with the history and the way she did not respond to any medications provided bacterial pneumonia as the only option.
He assured us that the worst was over and that we could rest easy. We simply needed to wait and give her lungs, full of scar tissue from the pneumonia, a chance to heal.
Fennel delighted us day by day by initiating interactions, playing, and finally having an appetite to nourish her tiny body. She grew fast and rowdy, and soon we began allowing her to spend her days in the adoptable cat room so she could learn how to be cat again. Because she spent so many months as a kitten ill, she was a little behind socially. She improves every day, however, and is much friendlier and more forgiving towards her fellow cats than she used be.
Fennel is now full vetted and 100% back to healthy and normal. She may always retain some scar tissue in her lungs, but as the body continually heals itself, each x-ray looks better and better, and it does not affect her breathing or mobility at all. She has now been at FFAA for over eight months, mostly due to her extended stay while she was ill.
**ADOPTION FEE PARTIALLY SPONSORED
If there is one thing you should know about Fennel, it is that she is a survivor! However, there is so much more to learn about this gorgeous and feisty tortie young female.
Fennel is a shining of example of "tortitude." She can often be seen at the scene of the crime -- wherever there's chaos, there's bound to be Fennel. Despite this, she is an exceptionally loving cat towards humans and even now as an adult, enjoys being held, carried, and will never say no to a shoulder ride.
Midway through December of 2023, we did Fennel's intake. She and her sisters presented as perfectly normal 12 week old kittens. However, while they quickly completed their quarantine, vetting, and went on to get adopted right awake, she began showing concerning symptoms.
For months, we sought out different vet opinions for her and cycled through several treatment options. She'd regain her appetite, her fever would diminish, and we'd dare to hope that we were finally out of the woods with her. But it never lasted long, and she repeatedly worsened, a vicious cycle that we began dreading. We were at the end of our rope, unsure of what exactly was wrong but also unwilling to continue to let her suffer. Difficult conversations that we dread ever having to broach were on the horizon as she fell more ill than ever.
And then...she just stopped getting worse. Her appetite held for over a week. She ceased showing her 3rd eyelid. Her fever broke and stayed broken. She started purring again. We made an appointment with one more vet and held out hope that this was it.
And it was!
At this final vet appointment, we were given what amounts to a diagnosis of exclusion of bacterial pneumonia which is very rare for cats to have. The vet explained that with the symptoms Fennel experienced, any other possible diagnosis or illness would require her having passed away on her own by now. The fact that she was improving on her own combined with the history and the way she did not respond to any medications provided bacterial pneumonia as the only option.
He assured us that the worst was over and that we could rest easy. We simply needed to wait and give her lungs, full of scar tissue from the pneumonia, a chance to heal.
Fennel delighted us day by day by initiating interactions, playing, and finally having an appetite to nourish her tiny body. She grew fast and rowdy, and soon we began allowing her to spend her days in the adoptable cat room so she could learn how to be cat again. Because she spent so many months as a kitten ill, she was a little behind socially. She improves every day, however, and is much friendlier and more forgiving towards her fellow cats than she used be.
Fennel is now full vetted and 100% back to healthy and normal. She may always retain some scar tissue in her lungs, but as the body continually heals itself, each x-ray looks better and better, and it does not affect her breathing or mobility at all. She has now been at FFAA for over eight months, mostly due to her extended stay while she was ill.
This can be done online through our website or in person at the shelter on paper!
2.
Interview
If you submitted an online app, staff will contact you for a phone or email conversation or to schedule an in-person convo at the shelter.
3.
Meet the Pet
During our m&g's, we ensure that any questions are answered and that the animal of interest matches what the applicant is looking for.
4.
Approve Application
Assuming all goes well during the m&g phase, your application will be approved and you will be cleared to adopt!
5.
Sign Adoption Contract
6.
Pay Fee
7.
Take the Pet Home
Additional adoption info
If you are interested in one of our adoptable pets, you can visit the the Adoption Center and fill out a paper application, fill out our application online from our website, or submit a request to receive one by email. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you are welcome to come by the center during our open hours for a meet-and-greet! We also ask that our dog applicants who have dogs of their own bring their current dog/s for a meet-and-greet with the potential new family member as well.
If the animal you are interested in has no other applications in and FFAA staff feel that you are a good fit, approved applicants may finalize the adoption the same day!
Email adopt.ffaa@gmail.com for any questions!
All animals are spayed or neutered before adoption, are up-to-date on age appropriate vaccinations, and are microchipped.
Our website: https://www.ffaaneosho.org/
If you choose to fill out an application online, click on the link to our website, hover over "Adopt," and then select either "Cat" or "Dog" to fill out the application that matches the species of the animal you are interested in - our dog and cat applications have different questions!
If you are interested in one of our adoptable pets, you can visit the the Adoption Center and fill out a paper application, fill out our application online from our website, or submit a request to receive one by email. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you are welcome to come by the center during our open hours for a meet-and-greet! We also ask that our dog applicants who have dogs of their own bring their current dog/s for a meet-and-greet with the potential new family member as well.
If the animal you are interested in has no other applications in and FFAA staff feel that you are a good fit, approved applicants may finalize the adoption the same day!
Email adopt.ffaa@gmail.com for any questions!
All animals are spayed or neutered before adoption, are up-to-date on age appropriate vaccinations, and are microchipped.
Our website: https://www.ffaaneosho.org/
If you choose to fill out an application online, click on the link to our website, hover over "Adopt," and then select either "Cat" or "Dog" to fill out the application that matches the species of the animal you are interested in - our dog and cat applications have different questions!
All of our adoptable animals are available to be seen at the Faithful Friends Adoption Center located in Neosho, MO! We are open Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 12PM-7PM and Saturday & Sunday 10AM-4PM. We are closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday.
Please call in advance if you are driving from a distance to ensure that the animal you would like to adopt is still available!
All of our adoptable animals are available to be seen at the Faithful Friends Adoption Center located in Neosho, MO! We are open Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 12PM-7PM and Saturday & Sunday 10AM-4PM. We are closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday.
Please call in advance if you are driving from a distance to ensure that the animal you would like to adopt is still available!
More about this shelter
Faithful Friends Animal Advocates, Inc is a non-profit organization committed to helping our community become a place where animals are treated with kindness and respect. Further, we want to be a voice for the welfare of animals in our community through various avenues.
We fulfill these goals by taking in homeless and vulnerable animals, rehabilitating, vetting, and preparing them for their future home, and ensuring that they are a good fit for those interested. Our goal is longevity - we are thorough when approving applications because we want their next home to be forever.
Our pledge to the animals under our charge knows no time limits. Our no-kill mission means that as long as it takes, we will keep searching for their perfect home. And if during that search, they need to rejoin our care, we welcome them with open arms no matter how long it has been.
People
From our paid staff to volunteers that support us at events and throughout the week, the dedicated and passionate community members that are involved in FFAA's mission are what keep us going. We always welcome new faces! If you are interested or know someone who would like to support our efforts, please contact us. We could not do it without our foster families, dog walkers, kennel cleaners, puppy and kitten socializers, event organizers, artists, chefs - everything we do is a group effort and thanks to the time and effort given freely and faithfully year after year.
Faithful Friends Animal Advocates, Inc is a non-profit organization committed to helping our community become a place where animals are treated with kindness and respect. Further, we want to be a voice for the welfare of animals in our community through various avenues.
We fulfill these goals by taking in homeless and vulnerable animals, rehabilitating, vetting, and preparing them for their future home, and ensuring that they are a good fit for those interested. Our goal is longevity - we are thorough when approving applications because we want their next home to be forever.
Our pledge to the animals under our charge knows no time limits. Our no-kill mission means that as long as it takes, we will keep searching for their perfect home. And if during that search, they need to rejoin our care, we welcome them with open arms no matter how long it has been.
People
From our paid staff to volunteers that support us at events and throughout the week, the dedicated and passionate community members that are involved in FFAA's mission are what keep us going. We always welcome new faces! If you are interested or know someone who would like to support our efforts, please contact us. We could not do it without our foster families, dog walkers, kennel cleaners, puppy and kitten socializers, event organizers, artists, chefs - everything we do is a group effort and thanks to the time and effort given freely and faithfully year after year.
Other pets at this
shelter
We'll also keep you updated on Xena's adoption status with email updates.
