At first glance, Polly seemed like a sad and withdrawn cat. She was deaf, estimated to be 15 years old, and had come from a hoarder’s house where she likely had many kittens. Despite her difficult past in a horrible setting, Sarah couldn’t wait to take her home and give her the love and care she deserved. Sarah found Polly at the Patricia Leo Foundation, a rescue organization that helps find homes for animals in need. At the time, Polly wasn’t spayed, which is unusual for an older cat.
Polly also had really bad teeth and was in a lot of pain. The foundation performed dental surgery to remove some of her teeth and spayed her before putting her up for adoption. They didn’t think anyone would want to adopt a ‘medically fragile cat’ like Polly, but Sarah knew she was perfect for her.
Looking for an underdog to love, Sarah brought Polly home, thinking she wouldn’t do much because of her advanced age. But Polly quickly proved her wrong. It seemed as though Polly hadn’t received much attention in a long time, so any attention she received made her incredibly happy. She began exploring, playing, and acting like she was aging backward.
Caring for a deaf cat requires some adjustments. To get Polly’s attention, Sarah would make sure she could see her and wave her hand or make some motion to avoid startling her. To Sarah’s surprise, Polly also turned out to be an alpha female, becoming the queen of the house. She even liked other cats and enjoyed snuggling with them at times.
Polly has an endearing quirk: she makes a unique noise that sounds like a baby, leaving people perplexed. She was named Polly at the shelter because she has seven toes on each of her front paws, making her a polydactyl cat. Sarah’s dad gave her the middle name Esther, resulting in the pun “Poly Esther.”
Sarah and her boyfriend have had Polly for three years and share a special bond with her. Polly’s favorite thing in the world is cheese, so her upcoming birthday party will be cheese-themed. When people hear about Polly’s unique traits – her big paws, lack of teeth, deafness, and advanced age – they’re amazed at just how special she is.
Love has truly healed Polly, both in body and soul. When Sarah brought her home, she didn’t have any expectations other than making the rest of Polly’s life special, spoiling her and giving her the retirement home she deserved. With her mission accomplished, Sarah’s story serves as a heartwarming reminder of the power of love and the importance of giving animals in need a second chance at a happy life.