A California animal shelter is helping to save the lives of pets by looking after cats from around the globe with special needs.
SNAP Cats, based in Santa Rosa, has made its mission to focus adoption efforts on housing cute kitties that might have ailments or physical deformities that could otherwise make them harder to adopt.
SNAP stands for Special Needs Are Precious and essentially offers a lifeline to felines that in other shelters would be overlooked and as a result be first in line to be euthanized.
One kitten recently arrived having birth defects with two deformed paws, while another cat currently being housed is without their front paw and hind leg.
Darryl Roberts, the founder of SNAP Cats, says there is a misconception that special needs cats might be a burden.
California's SNAP Cats specializes in caring for cats with special needs including ailments and physical deformities that might make them harder to adopt
This festive feline is Coconut who is 3 years 4 months-old where he was going to be euthanized for being FIV+ – which is the Feline immunodeficiency virus. Thankfully, he's been saved
Founded by Darryl Roberts in 2013, the rescue center aims to save felines that are often overlooked in other shelters and could face euthanasia
Sugar, right, is a new arrival at SNAP Cats. She has two paws that are much shorter than the others
This is Bonnie. She's 1 year 3 months-old and has a missing rear paw
GB is 9 years 3 months-old, He loves attention, head rubs and body pets. He has moderate ataxia meaning he has no muscle control in his legs and is not always aware of where his feet are
‘They're usually the last ones to get adopted, so shelters that are always full look at what they have, and the special needs are always the ones to be euthanized,' Roberts told KRON4.
But Roberts says it is people who bring their own emotion to the lives of the cats, urging potential foster parents that the pets don't feel sorry for themselves.
‘One of the things people don't understand is that animals cannot rationalize,' Roberts explained. ‘So they can't look at another cat and say, “Why do I have three legs and they have four?” They are who they are. They don't feel sorry for themselves, so we shouldn't feel sorry for them.'
Roberts founded SNAP Cats in 2013 with the specific aim of saving cats with various ailments, including twisted or missing limbs, blindness, deafness, and diabetes.
The cats have come from across California with one furry friend arriving from the Middle East resulting in more than 550 special needs cats being placed into warm, loving homes.
Founder of SNAP Cats Darryl Roberts says there is a misconception that special needs cats are burdens. He says the animals don't rationalize and people should not feel sorry for them
Roberts has run the cat sanctuary for the last ten years during which he and his staff have managed to house more than 550 cats
Roberts is seen in the cat kitchen preparing meals for his family of felines
The shelter gives the animals the right medical care they need until they are adopted
If many of these deformed cats were in other shelters they would be overlooked and as a result be first in line to be euthanized
Sparrow is 9 years 9 months-old and very affectionate with people. He loves attention and pets. Being blind, Sparrow will need a stable environment, meaning furniture, cat trees, etc, can’t be moved around at all as it’ll disorient him
Stanley is 7 years 3 months-old. He is basically incontinent which means he's a very messy, bath-a-day kitty – but look at that face!
Professor X is 8 years old and moves around just fine on his rear legs. He can walk on them if he wants to but he's learned that he can move a lot faster if he slides across the floor
Cats are brought in from across California and around the world. This one has deformed paws
Another kitten named Sugar had deformed paws but despite her challenges the charity were still able found her a new home in New Mexico.
‘We ended up naming her Sugar and she’s missing a right front paw and a right back paw. From what I understand, she was just wandering… alone. She wasn’t being cared for. She was probably a stray,' Roberts explained.
‘The mom probably left her because they know better than to try to spend their energy on cats that might not survive. Someone found her, took care of her, contacted the local shelter,' he said.
Despite being a recent arrival at the shelter, Sugar was quickly adopted by a woman from New Mexico who had previously adopted from SNAP.
Donations to SNAP Cats can be made by visiting their website.
SNAP Cats rescued Coconut from Bakersfield, California where he was going to be euthanized for being FIV+. He’s the first kitty to greet you when you enter the room, SNAP Cats say
Ana is five months old. She has a head tilt but she has been adopted
