“More Than a Cat” – Apollo’s Happy Tail
January 17th, 2025
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
You may be familiar with the Cat Distribution System (CDS): a running joke among cat owners, but also the true-to-life way so many become cat owners. Like many domesticated species, cats are a keen judge of human character. Hungry, cold, alone, or even bored, a cat ready for love and attention will seek out people with kind hearts and open arms who have what they need. They may even stay awhile.
The CDS had a plan for Taylor. A young feral cat chose her, eventually trusting Taylor to help watch and care for two litters of her newborn kittens. Among the second litter of this generation of ferals was the little fella who would come to be known as Apollo. It was some of the Cat Distribution System’s finest hours.
On the day he was born, Apollo was so small he could curl up comfortably in the palm of Taylor’s hand. He would soon have Taylor in the palm of his…paw…as he grew.
“Seeing him grow from just a tiny little ball of fur to the loving, sweet baby boy he is now has been the glue holding our family together. He is my little love bug. He is more than a cat; he is an important part of our family.”
Now four years old and bearing little resemblance to a tiny ball of fur, Apollo has never known hunger, cold, loneliness, or even boredom – his two human siblings and younger canine sister made sure of that. Apollo’s only problems were how quickly the warmth of a sunbeam moved across the floor and the fact that the food in his bowl was not everlasting. How could the world be so cruel?
The glue holding the family together was only strong if Apollo himself was strong and healthy. And he was, right up until the day Taylor noticed a lump on the side of his face just below his jaw. The lump grew rapidly in tandem with his fever. She could see clearly how much pain her sweet boy was in, very likely the worst pain of his life.
The veterinarian explained it was an abscess. It could have been caused by many things, like an infected insect bite, but to Taylor it mattered less how it happened and more how she could help him. As a temporary solution, the veterinarian drained the abscess to help relieve the pressure Apollo was feeling that caused so much pain. The only way to permanently relieve his pain was to sedate him, thoroughly clean the abscess, and place a drainage tube for his recovery.
As a single mom with a new job, Taylor was trying valiantly to gain stability for her family. She didn’t see a way to do that and afford Apollo’s surgery, but she couldn’t make him wait. She couldn’t let down that tiny ball of fur who once fit in the palm of her hand, or leave her family devastated by his suffering. While there’s no money distribution system like there is a Cat Distribution System, a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant helped meet her needs all the same.
A relatively simple procedure, Apollo’s surgery was finished quickly and with diligence to ensure proper healing. He recovered beautifully with ‘round-the-clock care and attention from Taylor, her children, and even the family dog, who missed her brother terribly.
“My handsome little baby Apollo is all back to his normal self!! I just want to thank you again for being amazing people and helping with my little love bug! It means the world to me, and the already strong bond I developed with this little guy is even stronger after this whole ordeal!!! Thank you ❤️”
Taylor’s right, FurEver Friends are amazing people. Here’s to 2025 and the hundreds of heartwarming Happy Tails in the making – all because of you!
