When Rosie first arrived at Lollypop Farm, she had a long road ahead of her. Today, this sweet black-and-white cat is thriving in a new home, keeping her family entertained with her signature little chirps and trills, but getting Rosie there took plenty of veterinary care and a lot of love.
Rosie’s story began outdoors, where she lived among other cats. Her friendly, approachable manner made her a favorite with the person caring for them. Rosie was a little nervous of people at times, but they made sure to tell us that Rosie was really the sweetest girl. When she was brought to Lollypop Farm, she quickly won over the staff as well.
Rosie was suffering from significant dental disease and stomatitis, a painful condition that causes inflammation throughout the mouth. Eating was difficult, and she was clearly uncomfortable. At Lollypop Farm, Rosie spent some time in a quiet office, but she still had trouble opening up. A staff member, Hannah, decided to take Rosie into foster care to see if a home environment would help to reduce her stress.
In foster care, Hannah noticed that Rosie was in immense pain from her dental issues, making eating nearly impossible. Hannah encouraged Rosie to eat, sometimes sitting with her for the better part of an hour at mealtimes. Rosie needed dental surgery, but while waiting for the procedure, Hannah made sure she continued to receive attention and advocated for her surgery to be prioritized because of the discomfort she was experiencing.
The time for her dental surgery came, and all of Rosie’s teeth were removed except her largest teeth, her canines. Within a day or two, her appetite drastically increased. However, it was still a long road to recovery.
This began a weekly ritual of rechecks with Dr. Cristina, Rosie being brought in each time by Hannah or her partner. After a few visits, Dr. Cristina didn’t see the improvements she had hoped for, so the team took additional X-rays and decided it was best to remove the remaining teeth. Afterward, Rosie needed additional medications and plenty of hands-on care. Hannah worked through the challenges of administering medications Rosie wasn’t particularly fond of, cleaning up drool, and keeping her comfortable throughout recovery.
There were plenty of messes created from drool along the way, including her favorite heated blanket and even a brand-new Buffalo Bills blanket, both casualties of Rosie’s recovery. Her caregiver affectionately nicknamed her “Goopamund,” a playful twist on the name Rosamund, which Rosie had been given as a nickname during her time at Lollypop Farm.
“I began to keep goop rags around all over the place, like having a drooly infant who needs spit-up rags at the ready,” Hannah jokes. “But she’s our precious little baby, and we’d do it all again in a heartbeat. She also makes a loud noise that’s kind of a combination of chirping and yowling, mostly at night, of course. She’s perfect, and I’m going to miss her so much. And she’s so, so cuddly, a total lap cat, nuzzling into my chest all the time. Simply the best.”
After everything Rosie had been through, finding a loving home was the next step in her journey. Today, she’s settling in beautifully with her adopters, who are already falling for her unique personality and sweet little quirks, including her chirps and trills.
From veterinary care to foster care, from outdoor cat to loving home, donors like you make journeys like this possible every day.
