My name is Ray. I’m a blind cat who will soon celebrate his second birthday. This is my story...

Ray's Story, As Told By Ray
With the help of a volunteer at The Animal
Center, I have requested to tell my own story

Who would do so much for a cat like me?

It was February and it started to snow. It was so cold outside and my body was aching all over. I tried to find my way to someplace warm. But I couldn’t see.

Literally...Everywhere I looked it was dark. I had gotten sick a few months earlier. The virus gradually made its way to my eyes, which began to redden and swell. Gone untreated, my eyes became badly infected. Then one day, my world went dark. I had gone blind.

I bumped into things. A lot of things. I was on my own with no one to look after me and I was lost. The snow made it hard to walk and I slipped. I know cats are supposed to land on their feet but I didn’t. I couldn’t see where the ground was. I landed on someone’s deck. The homeowners heard the “thud!” my body made, discovered me, then called The Animal Center for help.

That’s when my luck changed for the better...

I don’t remember much about those last few days that I was outside. I do know that when they brought me into The Animal Center’s program I was so surprised by the kindness and love everyone showed me. I sure wasn’t looking my best then. In fact, I looked terrible. I was so sick and my face was a goopy mess.

And I’ll admit it, I was scared at first. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me and I was nervous. So I peed... everywhere. On the walls, on the floor, in the litterbox. On an Animal Center volunteer.

I wondered, who would give a sick, blind cat like me a
second chance? But that’s just the thing. The Animal Center didn’t hesitate to help. They gave me a second chance when no one else would.

They mobilized all of their resources for me. A very kind local vet who works with them provided immediate surgical care to relieve the terrible pain I felt in my eyes. I was given special medicine and nutrition therapy so that my body could heal.

And the thing is, I wasn’t even the only one in need. I met a litter of kittens who were so sick they needed medication three times a day. I also met a cat who had just been released from the veterinary hospital after weeks of recovering from an illness that caused him to lose nearly half his body weight.

It’s sad there are so many animals in need, but there’s something wonderful happening through The Animal Center. Abandoned and unwanted animals are getting the special care they need and lives are being saved. Just like mine...

A few weeks after my operation, I was feeling so much better. With the pain gone, I was eating well and learned quickly to navigate the space around me. I even made a bunch of kitten friends who taught me how to play and share toys.

And best of all, when the doctor told us I was well enough to leave The Animal Center’s program, I got adopted! I now live with a wonderful family in Newtown, CT. They make sure I get to cuddle and play everyday. In addition to my human family, I have two furry sisters and a big furry brother. So there’s always someone close by and I never feel alone.

My name is Ray and I'm glad to be alive. Thank you for reading my story.

ps: There are lots of fun pictures of me and my friends while I was in The Animal Center's program. View them by clicking here