Rescuing a Blind Cat from the Grime of a Pet Store

Moet, a white Persian cat, started his life in a pet store in Oman, a small country in the Middle East.

She lives in a dirty cage filled with other cats. Her only chance at a happy and comfortable life depends on whether she will one day be bribed.

But that day doesn’t come soon enough for her.

Moet contracted a serious case of cat flu from one of the other cats in the store – and customers didn’t want to bring home a sick cat. Before long, all of Moet’s cage mates had found new homes outside the pet store, leaving Moet alone.

Without a regular supply of food and water, combined with a lack of medical care, Moet only became sicker – and eventually, she went blind.

Thankfully, Moet’s story doesn’t end there.

She was rescued by a woman who regularly scans pet stores in Oman, pulling out the most at-risk animals, Emily Shotter, a member of Omani Paws, a rescue community in Oman, told The Dodo.

The woman who finally gave Moet a forever home has left Oman.

However, her simple act of kindness changed Moet’s entire life for the better. “Thank God she did what she did,” Shotter said.

“Many pets in pet stores [in Oman] are in poor condition, with little food or water, cages with wire floors that are too small and no beds, toys or care,” Shotter said. squirrel”. “Many people try to rescue animals from these terrible conditions, but many others are brought in [from abroad] to replace them.”

“Honestly, if you could see the pet stores here, you would get butterflies in your stomach,” she said. “The woman apparently told [the pet store owner] that she was taking [the animals] to the vet for treatment, but of course never returned them.”

After being rescued, Moet was taken to Al Qurum Veterinary Clinic, where the then 1-year-old cat had her eyes surgically removed – due to her illness, they became a source of infection, the clinic informed Shotter.

Little did Moet know that her life would get better from then on.

In September 2014, Shotter, an immigrant to Oman from the UK, was being sought.

She wanted a friend for her first rescue cat, Luna, a 3-year-old Maine Coon mix – ideally a kitten.

“[The clinic] told me they had a 1-year-old blind Persian cat, but it wouldn’t be advertised because they just wanted the ‘right’ owner for it,” Shotter said.

Initially, Shotter believed that she would not be able to devote the necessary time to caring for a disabled animal, so she resisted the idea of adopting Moet. However, the clinic convinced Shotter to at least meet Moet in person – and so, Shotter agreed.

Then she fell in love.

“There was [Moet], a sweet little champagne-colored Persian girl, with stitches in her eyes where they had just been removed,” Shotter said. “I bent down next to her to caress her. Immediately, she rolled over and rubbed her belly and purred loudly. I was sold.”

Moet is now 3 years old and has lived with Shotter for almost two years. Most importantly, she is living her best, sexiest, and happiest cat life.

“She is an attention seeker and demands endless playtime when she is awake,” Shotter said.

“She loves to experience things, climb on things, taste [my] dinner, and explore her cat-safe balcony, listening to all the sounds. She hates feeling bored and needs lots of stimulation, because, of course, she can’t sit and survey her world the same way sighted cats can,” she said. added.

Shotter also describes Moet as a diva who doesn’t ask too much for her chin to be rubbed or her silky fur to be brushed with a comb. “I can brush her five times a day, but that’s not enough,” Shotter said.

In addition to his sister Luna, Moet has two other rescued siblings – Lily, another Persian, and Cosmo, another Maine Coon.

Shotter hopes to use Moet’s social media fame (complete with quirky Photoshopped images) to eventually raise enough money to build a cat shelter in Oman.