Duchess

Duchess's Story

Duchess arrived as a stray with a broken tooth and a bite wound that had infected her jaw. The vet who first examined her said the kindest thing would be to euthanize her. Rita said absolutely not.

Four months of intensive treatment, three surgeries, and one very determined tortoiseshell cat later — Duchess was eating, thriving, and bossing around every other cat in the sanctuary.

She is FIV positive, which means her immune system needs extra support and careful monitoring. It also means she could never safely live in a multi-cat home with FIV-negative cats. Here, she has a dedicated suite where she reigns supreme.

"Spicy" is the word we use. She will allow you exactly 30 seconds of petting before she decides you have overstayed your welcome. She communicates this with a single, devastating paw swipe. No claws. She's making a point, not a wound. She also sleeps on Rita's feet every night without fail.