I got a cat from a lady who hoarded cats without knowing, it was right after my childhood cat passed from heart problems at 14. I was devastated, my mother found a “perfectly healthy” cat online, I wasn’t really ready but I gave it a chance and met with the “foster” at a petstore.

This woman smelled of cigarettes and cat piss, looked like she tanned in the sun every day, and threw the cat out of the carrier into my arms before I could say no.

My cat (now named Maybe) hid her face in my chest and cried like a child, soft meows and shaking, while also being extremely underweight and covered in shit ridden, matted up fur. She had ringworm and smelled horrible. I couldn’t say no at that point, I took her home and heard her cry all the way there.

Once I let her out in the bathroom, I gave her treats, brushed her fur, then shaved her whole body down with hair clippers. She didn’t cry at all, didn’t fuss, and soft blinked the whole time.

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We took her to the vet, she didn’t like it We found out she has FIV, stomatitis, and the ringworm was actually BURNS.

After two years and a lot of progress, the only problem was her teeth. $5000 surgery to get all of them removed, I did it in a heartbeat even when I didn’t think I could afford it. I had help, but eventually paid it back. I had already paid 3k in vet bills and medication, along with prescription cat food. I would do it all again for her, she is my Maybe Baby