MoetI was brought into a country called Oman from my birthplace, but I’m not sure where that was. I was taken to this place called the ‘pet shop’ and all the other fluffy kittens there said it was horrible but I’d soon be out of there. One by one my companions left, but one of them had given me cat flu and I wasn’t well so nobody really wanted me. The mean people at the pet shop didn’t care; I was left often without food and water, a dirty cage, no bed to lie on, no toys. Nothing. I was so miserable and then I just got sicker and sicker. Eventually the bright colours and things I saw started to go fuzzy and one day I woke up and there were only shadows and light. It wasn’t too much after that I could see only darkness. My world was miserable and I just lay down to find eternal sleep.

It was suddenly and abruptly that the cage was opened and a lady’s hand reached in for me. Loud voices, insistence and a lot of scuffling and I was put into a carry-box. I was so weak by this time I didn’t move a muscle. I just lay there thinking that perhaps this was the rainbow bridge that everybody had spoken of.

I felt the cold of a metal table, kind voices, the sting of an injection and then a soft bed. I couldn’t eat, so I slept… waiting and waiting for the kindness to take me to the bridge. But it didn’t come and instead after one more slight sting, I drifted off.

Moet after surgeryWhen I woke up I knew something was different about my eyes, they didn’t hurt so much any more, but they were sore. The nice voices said I had “stiches” and so I had to wear this horrible plastic collar. But I didn’t mind because oddly, I felt like I could stand up on my own now and just felt a lot better. The kind voices came and went, I was given the most delicious food I had ever eaten and I always had a soft bed to lie on. Maybe I was over the rainbow bridge?? No, this was real!  I didn’t much like the daily stings, but the nice voices said they would make me feel better and that one day maybe I would have a home of my own. A home?! Really?? But I also heard the whispers and something about it being difficult to find a ‘good’ home for a blind cat. I wasn’t too sure what that meant, but I was happy and purred loudly at the kind voices and strokes that came my way. In fact, they said I was one of the happiest kitties they’d ever met. I didn’t know why, but that made me even happier.

Six days after my ‘surgery’ this lady appeared from nowhere. She also spoke to me in a very kind voice and stroked my cheek. I rolled over for the next stage – the belly rub. She cooed and ahhh-ed and said “yes, I’ll take her”.

It was 2 days later after they removed my “stiches” and annoying collar that I was again put into a carrier and taken to a new place. I knew there was another cat there because I could smell her, but the lady didn’t let her get me and we had our own separate areas for about 4 days. I loved my new place. I had strokes and cuddles every day, great food, lots of different beds and so many toys I kept forgetting which one was my favourite. I also learned that if I lost a toy, my human would go and retrieve it if I let out the merest squeak (which is all I do by the way, I’m not into shouting loudly).

Moet and LilyIt’s now been one year since I was in my “forever home”. My mum is just the best and loves me lots (I think maybe I’m her favourite, which annoys my two fur-sisters – one of whom came after me – mum rescued her from a tiny birdcage in a horrible local market!). We are a happy family, but sometimes I have to tease Luna to play with me. I like to play a lot. Sometimes mum says I never sit still. But I do, I like sleeping too, because there are so many nice places to curl up – my mum’s bed, 3 cat trees (one of which is like a real tree) and 2 comfy sofas. My mum also has a nice balcony, which she says she made ‘safe’ by enclosing it. We are allowed to go out whenever we like! 

I know I’m home. I know I’m loved. I am lucky to have my mum and fur-sisters. I am so happy.

From mum (Emily)

As you’ll ascertain from Moet’s story, I first met her when I went to the vet one day for the usual supplies for my first rescue, Luna, and was asking about getting another cat or kitten. As they knew me well and also knew my love of cats and attentive loving care for them, they said they had a 1 year old blind cat up for adoption, but that it wouldn’t be advertised because they wanted just the ‘right’ owner for her. My instant reaction was that I didn’t want a blind cat. I’m out all day at work and a ‘special needs’ cat just instantly seemed too ‘difficult’. Luckily I was persuaded otherwise and I must say, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Unfortunately, there is no animal welfare legislation here in Oman (WSPCA, PETA and others – please take note and help us out!).  Therefore, most of the pet shops and other places animals are kept can be utterly appalling.

The one thing Moet hasn’t mentioned, because she has blocked it out, is a day when I didn’t have my balcony fully enclosed (only up to 6 ft) and I nearly lost her. One morning little Moet was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere, thinking maybe she’d been shut in somewhere, but no. Then a sixth sense told me to look out of the window… (I’m on the 5th floor and thought 6ft would be high enough. I was wrong).

There, at the bottom of the quad, lay little Moet. I can’t tell you the fear, self-anger, grief and shock I felt. The vets found nothing broken, but it soon became clear she was slowly giving up and further investigation revealed she had severe anaemia, due to internal bleeding into her chest cavity. Being blind, she could not have anticipated the landing, even though she righted herself. On the plus side, she didn’t have the broken limbs one might expect after that kind of fall. On the down-side, she’d landed on her chest. After two long and agonising weeks in the vets, lots of TLC and visits every day from me, she pulled through. The vets said that she perked up every time I went in and called her name, so I knew I had to check in every day, no matter how busy or late I was. I was grief-stricken even at the thought of losing her. I’d grown so fond of her over the three short months I’d had her. But she’s such a survivor. Needless to say, that balcony is now totally fenced-in and a fun area for the girls to play.

And now, a year on, she is such a vibrant, talkative, playful and incredibly happy girl. She is the light of my life and every day she makes me remember how lucky I am to have her.

You can follow Moet on Twitter: @MoetBlindCat

You can also follow Moet and her sisters (Luna and Lily) on Instagram: @3Muscats

Dr Emily Shotter

One Cat is Company

"One cat is company.
Two cats are a conspiracy. 
Three cats is an attempted takeover.
Four or more cats is a complete coup!"

Shona Steele (Australia)

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