Cats with medical issues find care, comfort in nonprofit’s hospital sanctuary

There’s a place in the northwest where cats with chronic illnesses can live out the rest of their lives in peace.

The felines are treated to love and care inside a specialized sanctuary at the Poppy Foundation inside the Bonanza Cat Hospital, 6620 Sky Pointe Drive, home to 150 cats, most of which require medication and constant care.

“Our cats thrive on human interaction,” said Linda Newman, president of the nonprofit foundation. “This is a place where they can just live in peace despite the hardships that they face.”

The foundation started in 2007 as a result of a female cat named Poppy, a Siamese-mix with a severe head tilt. Due to her medical condition, she was deemed unadoptable because she would need a lifetime supply of daily medication for her immune system.

She became the official greeter at Bonanza Cat Hospital. Soon, several clients began donating money for her care and medical needs.

She died in 2001, and the Poppy Foundation was born.

The hospital and nonprofit work together to help the group’s cats. Inside the organization’s 2,500-square-foot room, it’s almost like a cat Disneyland, where they are able to people-watch and receive attention.

Though the room is full of cats — young and old — they’re calm and friendly with one another.

“Each one of these cats has a different personality, but I think they know this is their last stop,” Newman said. “That’s why they get along so well.”

Parading through the room recently was Mr. Smitty, who can be distinguished by his short tail. Newman said someone yanked it so hard that it disconnected, and he had to have it amputated.

Around the corner was Andy Panda. He has anxiety issues and urinates randomly but still loves a good scratching.

Sitting on top of a scratch pole was Bear, whose upper and lower canines were removed because he has feline AIDS and leukemia, which can be transmitted through biting.

“The only thing we fear is that if they catch something like a cold, they could die,” Newman said. “But we watch them very closely here. We always have vet techs walking through the room multiple times a day.”

One of Newman’s favorite cats is Ponyo, a special-needs cat whose brain didn’t fully develop. She can’t quite stand on her own and can barely walk because she has trouble controlling her movements.

“She’s such a sweet cat,” Newman said. “We’re not sure what exactly caused her to have this, but we suspect it may have been inbreeding. She spends her days lying in bed, but she seems happy enough. We can’t kill a cat that’s eating and is healthy.”

There’s also Cliffy, who doesn’t have a back leg or tail as a result of a birth defect. Then there’s Shelly, born with eyelids too small and turned inward, so she had to have surgery to remove them. Because she can no longer produce tears, she requires constant medication and lubricant to keep them from drying.

“Sometimes cats are just left at the door, and other times they’re dropped off at boarding facilities, and the owner never returns,” Newman said.

Newman said the foundation is in constant need of donations, both financial and for supplies. It is looking for people to donate newspapers and cat food. The foundation also collects clean aluminum cans for recycling.

“The great thing about the Poppy Foundation is that there are no administrative costs,” said Carol Lynch, a volunteer at the foundation. “Every single dime raised goes toward covering the cost for every one of these babies.”

People who just want to get their “cat fix,” as Newman calls it, are invited to stop by anytime during the hospital’s regular hours.

“Our cats love the attention,” Newman said.

Volunteers are also needed to change litter boxes, and those with vet tech experience are needed to help medicate the cats. Cats are vaccinated every six months against upper-respiratory illnesses and leukemia.

Newman believes the foundation has saved hundreds of cats since it opened. Currently, it is at capacity and cannot accept more of them.

“We already have too many cats, and we can’t accept any more because we could not provide the care that they need,” Newman said. “If it weren’t for the help that we receive, it would cost us $10,000 a month to take care of these 150 cats.”

A few cats are available for adoption, though in the 13 years that Newman has been working at the foundation, she said roughly 30 have been adopted.

“It does take a lot of work to help these cats, but it’s all worth it in the end,” Newman said. “They’re incredible animals. I love how they just know when you’re sad and they try to comfort you. How can you kill a creature that’s alive and breathing?”

Call 702-271-1632 or visit poppyfoundation.org. Upcoming fundraisers are posted at facebook.com/PoppyFoundation.

To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.