What I’ve Learned From My Cat: Juneau

Out of all nine cats I have, one in particular has my heart in her paws the most. Juneau is a tiny calico cat that has been through so much in her short life. I found her on the streets of New Jersey during my sophomore year of high school. When I found her she was still a young kitten and happened to have been recently hit by a car. This left her with one good eye  and one wonky-looking eye, a cockeyed hip that caused her to walk differently than normal cat without pain, and a tail with a nick in it that caused it to be bent and cease its growth. Throughout all of this beginning stress, I rescued Juneau and I snuck her home to have a happy family and fun kitty lifestyle.

She lived her first few years fine. She got along with my other cats – at the time we had six – and she ate well, growing only slightly more than she was as a kitten, but this is one of the things I love about her. She’s my tiny, June bug. Her beginning as a stray kitten in the streets that avoided death by car really stole my heart. She taught me that one could be strong even after having some unfortunate beginnings. Juneau was a strong kitten and did not let her deformities or tormented past stop her from becoming a part of my cat family and home.

Then, in my sophomore year of college at Rowan University, my mother – who works at a local animal hospital – noticed that Juneau was limping in the morning during feeding time and she rushed her to work to get her checked. Later on that day, she told me that Juneau had cancer in her leg. It was benign, but would eventually grow and expand to all parts of her body. I basically was given two choices: let her live as long as she can with terminal cancer, or amputate her leg. So, because I love Juneau and would never want any of my animals to have to suffer through a lifelong disease, we surgically removed her right leg.

Her first few weeks without her leg were heartbreaking to say the least. Juneau still believed her leg was there and would constantly topple over when she attempted to walk, jump, or sit. I researched on purchasing a prosthetic leg for her, but the finances were not in order and it would cost too much money. My mother assured me that Juneau would eventually evolve to live with just three legs and walk just fine. It just takes time.

It was around May 2017 when Juneau began to walk somewhat fine by hopping and being able to jump up and down when needed. This taught me that it isn’t easy, but it is possible to overcome basically anything life throws at you. Juneau was hit by a car, grew up with a deformed tail and wonky eyes, and then had to have her leg amputated to avoid being taken down by cancer – yet she still ate, she still played, and she still purred. And, now, Juneau walks just fine along our other animals.

Though Juneau is not entirely like my other eight cats, as she grows quite annoyed with the kittens if they try to play too rough with her because she can only play fight so much with one back leg, I always buy Juneau various toys and catnip treats to make her happy. She finds solace and is most calm when she is in my room and the other cats cannot annoy her. As she has aged, Juneau has preferred to cuddle up with me in my room, play with her toys, eat with the others, and sometimes have playtime with the cats and kittens living with us. But, no matter what happens or what will happen, Juneau will always be by my side staying strong throughout whatever life decides to deal to each of us because she has shown me her strength in fighting cancer and her cute deformities I cherish. Juneau is still very happy, even after having such a difficult life. I plan to be as strong as she has been throughout my life’s endeavors as well.