Safe Haven of Iowa County

Peanut was originally found as a stray in the nearby town of Oxford in the Fall of 2022.  The family that found her had noticed Peanut was urinating frequently, so they could tell she needed help. This kind family asked us to take in Peanut at Safe Haven, but as they waited for space to open up at the shelter, they took her into their care, and made an appointment at their vet where she was initially diagnosed with an Urinary Tract Infection.  She was placed on an antibiotic, and eventually an over the counter kibble that helps support and maintain a healthy urinary tract, and the family ended up falling in love with this cuddle bug and decided to adopt her themselves.

Over the next several months Peanut was still struggling with random bouts of straining to urinate in her litter box, so the family took her back to their vet where her diagnosis was upgraded to Feline Interstital Cystitis, also known as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, or FIC. This family was not able to continue her medical care at this time, so she was returned to Safe Haven in the Fall of 2023. We have done some more advanced vetting (including an ultrasound of her abdomen and urinary tract system) and feel we have Peanut on a stable health routine now, and she is ready for adoption.

This FIC condition is basically an inflammation of the bladder in cats.  Left untreated this inflammation can make the walls of the bladder thick, and make it more difficult to urinate, which mimics an infection however no bacteria is present.  It is important that Peanut continues to receive care for this FIC condition, because without that the FIC could progress and cause an obstruction - which would make it impossible for Peanut to urinate.  So this care includes a prescription food and medication cost (>$50 every few months) and is something that potential adopters need to be comfortable with providing, but we feel Peanut is definitely worth it and she will kindly repay her family with a lifetime of the best cuddles they could ever ask for!  

Luckily for Peanut she is one of the sweetest cats, and she seeks attention and love - volunteers say she would literally lay in your arms all day long, and especially loves to curl up around your shoulders and purr as she cuddles with you! Peanut currently has another feline roommate, so we feel like she could live with another cat if proper introductions and initial monitoring are done - however she would also be perfectly content to be an only cat in her forever home. Peanut has also been around dogs and older kids - but we also know that FIC symptoms have been linked to stress, so a quieter home may be the best fit for Peanut.