Several months ago, Tails High took in two bedraggled medium-hair kittens who had been born to a feral mama.  Their ears were dirty and infected; they had upper respiratory infections, which caused massive eye watering; and they were, to use a technical term in the kitten medical lexicon, “pitiful looking.”  Their names were Badger (F) and Honey (M).  For several days, we noticed that Honey’s eyes were constantly dilated.  We initially assumed it was because he was afraid/nervous about being in a new environment. 

Badger healed first, and quickly showed her beautiful, loving self.  She was adopted into a home with a mama and a human brother and sister.  I just heard from the mama today that Badger is getting plump (on a diet of wet food only), and everyone is happy.

Honey’s eyes continued to water and stayed dilated, so we took her to see Dr. Corcoran, the wonderful eye vet at VetVision in Fairfax.  She used this special tool and that, double-checking, and then told us that Honey, at the age of 4 months, had congenital cataracts in both eyes.  Honey could still see, but not well.  Since he was a kitten, nothing could be done but wait.  Surgery to correct cataracts can’t be done until a kitten is at least a year old, and is very costly.  Even with our discount, it would be several thousand dollars.

Honey had made a special friend during his time in our kitten room.  Maureen, the lovely woman who had an FTA on William, had also fallen in love with Honey.  She wanted to foster him during the time we waited to see what would happen with Honey; she understood that he might lose his sight.  The two orange boys and the resident tortie girl made a very special threesome in the Maureen’s home.  It was a regular love fest.  Maureen decided to adopt Honey as well.

Yesterday, Maureen, Honey and I went to see Dr. Corcoran for the 4-month recheck.  We hoped and prayed for the best news, that the cataracts hadn’t grown.  Dr. Corcoran couldn’t believe her eyes, and Maureen and I couldn’t believe our ears:  “I don’t see anything.  The cataracts are gone.”  We asked:  “What?  How?”  And she couldn’t say exactly, maybe it was high-qualtiy food.  And, of course, Honey had always gotten good food since coming to Tails High.  But I know in my heart there was another very powerful reason:  He was happy and safe and loved, and when those conditions come together, miracles can happen.