Haley, the dedicated founder and CEO of Friends of Bear Cat Rescue (FOB), is no stranger to helping cats in distress around Northern California.
Her passion for rescuing sick and homeless cats often leads her to unexpected encounters, including one very close to home in the Bay Area.
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One day, as Haley stepped out of her house, she was startled by a loud cry from a bush nearby. Concerned, she moved closer and discovered a distressed cat hiding there.
Believing the cat, who she later named Birdie, had been abandoned, Haley shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, “I believe someone dumped this very loud cat, who is terrified, and she’s just been living in my bush … and screaming at me…”
Haley attempted to coax Birdie out of the bush with a tempting treat, a tactic that usually worked with her rescues. While Birdie showed signs of hunger, there was something peculiar about her eating habits.
“She would jump and run away from her food, even though she was clearly hungry, and would just hide in a bush and cry, not letting anyone touch her,” FOB described on their website.
Heartbroken by Birdie’s plight, Haley suspected a mouth injury was causing Birdie’s discomfort and reluctance to eat. However, the wary cat wouldn’t allow close contact.
After days of patience, Haley successfully trapped Birdie and whisked her off to the local vet for urgent care.
The veterinarian team welcomed Birdie with compassion, providing medication to ease her pain while she awaited surgery. Unfortunately, the pain relief was not as effective as anticipated.
Haley expressed on X, “Her mouth hurts so bad that she’s afraid of her food, even with pain meds. She’s just uncomfortable and hungry [but] still purring because she’s so sweet.”
Once safely anesthetized, Birdie was diagnosed with stomatitis, a painful condition causing severe inflammation in her mouth.
Haley explained the drastic solution on X: “The only solution is to extract ALL teeth and roots.” Despite the drastic measure, it was the only way to alleviate Birdie’s intense pain.
Undergoing surgery was challenging for Birdie, but resilience paid off. With time and proper care, including a strong steroid to reduce inflammation, she began to recover.
“She is eating and feeling better after starting a strong steroid to knock down her inflammation,” Haley shared. Birdie now enjoyed her soft, watered-down mousse meals and thrived with affection during this critical period.
As Birdie adapted to her new toothless reality, she overcame her fear of food, gradually regaining weight and enthusiasm for her meals.
Two months after her rescue, Birdie was ready for adoption. FOB found her a loving forever home where she could thrive.
Now living happily with her new human mom and feline brother, Birdie has become the princess of her household.
“It’s so rewarding helping cats like Birdie finally get some relief from their suffering and find the wonderful forever homes they all deserve,” FOB shared. The organization couldn’t be happier with Birdie’s transformation and her bright new future.
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