By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet—or few—from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
In early September 2018, Caledonia resident Amanda T. came across this lovely young lady (born in early October of 2017) roaming around her property. She and her husband considered giving her a permanent home as she was exceptionally friendly and affectionate but weren’t quite sure what their resident cat would think. So they took Asha into their vet to get her checked out a few weeks later and discovered, much to their dismay, that she tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Since the virus is transmitted through the sharing of bodily fluids like saliva, they didn’t want to risk their kitty contracting it.
After contacting Dr. Jen and explaining the situation, the good doctor offered to take the darling girl they named Asha into our program at Big Sid’s, our sanctuary for kitties with FELV and FIV. Her name means ‘hope’, which we thought was very appropriate.
After spaying her (Amanda had gotten her set with deworming and vaccines prior to her arrival), Dr. Jen sent adorable little Asha on down to meet the rest of her roommates, and after a few days of rest and recovery, she dove right into the thick of things. She adores being smack dab in the middle of the action as she is young, vibrant and oh-so curious.
Asha finds bird watching a fantastic way to pass the time, and she is absolutely thrilled to let you rub her belly for hours on end. Initially, this little kitty was too busy to be held for very long, but over time she has discovered just how warm and tingly snuggling makes her feel. She gets along famously well with all of the other residents and is extremely playful, so a household with a few kids would really tickle her fancy!
Since Asha is so very fond of attention, she would be the perfect companion for someone who is home a lot and would be more than happy to offer up a lap for her to lounge on. She really is one of our sweetest girls—and considering she IS a calico that says a LOT! It’s a shame that she tested positive for the virus, though on her retest one month after her arrival she was only a faint positive, and since some cats with strong immune systems can clear the virus and not harbor the infection, Dr. Jen will be checking her again in mid-November. Fingers crossed!
Asha is truly an amazing cat and we are so thankful we were in a position to help out when it was most needed. There are vaccines that can be given to non-infected cats to help decrease the risk of transmission, so adoption is a very viable option in this case. It would be a shame to not let our cutie pie know the wonders or comfort of a cozy, loving home of her own. Don’t get me wrong, our place is AWESOME, but it is meant to be a stepping stone for bigger and better things. And what could be better than waking up to this fabulous feline face every single morning, or drifting off peacefully each night with her dainty paw touching your hand as you gently stroke her tummy fur, eliciting the purest purrs of contentment than you have ever heard? NOTHING is going to beat that.
More about Asha:
- Medium
- Calico
- Adult
- Female
- House-trained
- Vaccinations up to date
- Spayed
- Not declawed
- FELV+
- Good in a home with other cats, children
Want to adopt Asha? Learn about the adoption process here. Fill out a pre-adoption form here.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
