The mood at Denver’s Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue (RMFR) was definitely festive. And this was all thanks to Tuck. An adorable tabby kitty with a blaze of white on his chest and eminently pet-able tummy. He’s waited patiently here for a forever home for nearly three years!
But he was now going to a place where he’d receive plenty of love — a place where he could be the boisterous, playful Manx kitty he’s always been.
Tuck Has Manx Syndrome.
When he arrived at RMFR in November 2018, he’d spent a few days in a foster home. But while he was there he never used the litter box. So it was time for a vet examination which revealed the reason for his incontinence: The poor kitty was dealing with Manx Syndrome.
The problem was complicated by the fact that Tuck can’t wear diapers because they give him urinary tract infections. For Tuck, this meant finding a home would be difficult at best.
Tuck, however, is full of a gentle, fighting spirit. He’s a kitty who loves headbutts and he will give you a high five in exchange for a treat. And one of his favorite hobbies is jumping through hula hoops.
“Tuck has been a special needs cat that has touched the hearts of everyone at RMFR,” says Kelsey Bailey, RMFR’s animal care manager. “He has been a cat to rally together for and brings a sense of togetherness to the staff and volunteers.”
Tuck Is Very Outgoing And Friendly.
“Tuck is not shy,” notes Naomi Lugo, a member of RMFR’s board and his former foster mom. “He loves headbutts and hanging out on your shoulders on a towel. He’s such a charming kitty who loves attention from everyone.”
Quite obviously, he loves a good brushing as well. Even if he has to do it himself!
But now, after being RMFR’s longest residents, at two years and 10 months, and after one adoption attempt, Tuck is about to start a new life. At the Colorado Companion Animal Sanctuary (CCAS), located an hour’s drive away in the Rocky Mountains, he’ll be living in a place designed for special needs kitties just like himself. So it’s no wonder that Tuck’s many fans were in a festive mood Saturday at RMFR.
Room To Be Himself.
Staff at RMFR love this beautiful kitty and spent a lot of time with him. Even so, they knew this was a less than ideal living situation for him. So people were thrilled when CCAS offered him a place. The sanctuary is designed to allow cats to roam free and has just the accommodations cats like Tuck need.
Saying goodbye at RMFR
There’s even a nice catio where he can lounge or play to his heart’s content.
And at CCAS, Tuck has had one big fan from the get-go.
LuAnn Pierce, the sanctuary’s founder, and director first heard about this plucky cat when he was a kitten. She old Daily Paws she instantly fell in love with him.
“Every now and again I’d check the website to see if he’s still there,” Pierce says. “And one day, they reached out and said, ‘we just can’t find a home for him.’ And those are the kind of cats that come to sanctuaries. They’re considered ‘unadoptable,’ but what it really means is that they have something going on that makes it hard to manage in a family environment. And Tuck falls into that category, as do most of our cats.”
While the sanctuary is designed for cats dealing with incontinence, with epoxy flooring and washable rugs, “we try to make it as home-like as possible,” she notes.
“We are definitely proactive about keeping [the cats] stimulated and making sure they get enough sunshine and enough playtime and enrichment that they would get if they were in a home.”
The sanctuary is 1500 square feet, meaning he’ll have lots of room to roam and play with his new kitty friends. And of course, he’ll be able to soak up the sun all he wants on the catio. Plus, he’ll get a lot of love and attention from the staff.
Lugo, his former caregiver, is thrilled.
“He is an amazing cat with the odds stacked against him, but he’s got a family that’s dedicated to taking care of him.”
The folks at RMFR don’t plan to ever forget this beautiful, friendly Manx kitty who touched so many lives. Because plans are in the works to establish a fund in 2022 that’s dedicated to felines with special needs.
Tuck is definitely lucky for having people like Lugo in his corner.
“When I started fostering, I understood I could make a difference,” Lugo tells Daily Paws. “But it wasn’t until I met Tuck that I understood just how vital fostering and shelters like the Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue are. Working with Tuck made me see that I could do more and showed me that it takes a community to help these cats.”
You can watch Tuck having a blast in his new surroundings below. We’re glad so many kind-hearted people have stepped in to make sure this beautiful cat has the home he deserves. A fitting end to a heartwarming story.
