December 27th, 2025
A Tough Start for a Sweet Cat
One-year-old Bailey arrived at SAFe from a partner rescue in Central Washington. This fluffy sweetheart was instantly playful and friendly – but she wasn’t feeling her best. Bailey had an upper respiratory infection (URI), sometimes called a “kitty cold.”
URIs are usually easy to treat once diagnosed, but for cats living outdoors without consistent care, they can lead to long-term complications. Despite her bright spirit, Bailey was severely congested, turning down food, and her eyes were so cloudy it was hard to see the amber color beneath.
Bailey was placed in a foster home to begin treatment. Medications, probiotics, immune supplements, and even bathroom steam sessions were given under her foster mom Smruti’s careful watch. Before long, Bailey’s sneezing eased and her appetite returned.
“As her health improved, it felt like watching her come alive,” Smruti shared. “Her energy, confidence, and sass emerged quickly.”
A Turning Point in Bailey’s Care
While most of Bailey’s symptoms cleared, one issue remained: her eye. After an exam by SAFe’s veterinary team, it was determined that while she had regained vision in one eye, the other was non-functional and needed to be surgically removed.
The surgery went smoothly, and within days, she was back to her snuggly, happy self – down one eyeball, but up one lease on life.
“She went from a sick, sleepy cat who struggled to climb onto the sofa, to a confident, agile, and independent cat who doesn’t seem limited at all. Now she runs, climbs, explores, and owns the space completely—and her personality is front and center every day.”
Smruti, Bailey’s foster mom
(Scroll down for a full interview with Bailey’s foster)
Today, Bailey has healed fully from both her URI and surgery. Her pain and discomfort are gone, and she’s free to play and snuggle to her heart’s content! On December 20th, she was adopted by a wonderful family, closing one chapter of her Rescue journey and beginning the next in her new home.
Bonus Q + A With Bailey’s Foster Mom
How was Bailey when she arrived vs. now? Have you been able to see more of her personality since her health improved?
When Bailey first came to us, she was quite sick with a heavy cold that took over two weeks to clear. During that time, she was understandably sleepy and had low-energy, and much of her focus was on resting and recovering. Even then, though, she showed how gentle and patient she is – despite my having no prior experience giving oral medication to a cat, Bailey made it easy. She never fought it; she just needed time and calm, which really set the tone for who she is.
As her health improved, it felt like watching her come alive. Her energy, confidence, and sass emerged quickly. She went from a sick, sleepy cat who struggled to climb onto the sofa, through eye removal surgery, to a confident, agile, and independent cat who doesn’t seem limited at all by her remaining vision. Now she runs, climbs, explores, and owns the space completely – and her personality is front and center every day.
How would you describe the experience of caring for Bailey?
Caring for Bailey has been incredibly rewarding. She’s a cat with clear boundaries, strong opinions, and so much affection once trust is built. Early on, she was comfortable with us but understandably cautious and sassy – stalking us around the house as she figured us out. Over time, that sass turned into companionship. She’s now a true cuddle buddy who jumps up to snuggle next to us and will happily stay there for hours. She follows us from room to room and clearly wants to be part of whatever is happening.
She’s also surprisingly tolerant and trusting – she doesn’t hate water and allows gentle grooming. During her cold and later while she was in a cone after surgery, she loved being softly wiped down with a warm towel. Seeing that level of trust grow has been incredibly special.
Bailey in her foster home.
Any anecdotes you’d like to share?
Bailey’s love of food is legendary. She ADORES wet food of any kind and has become increasingly vocal about her hunger. While I’m opening a can, she meows, paws at me, and demands that I hurry up – looking absolutely adorable while being very “angry” about it. Any time I cook human food, she comes running to the kitchen to make sure she isn’t being left out.
Her tail might be one of her best features – it’s incredibly expressive and constantly moving. You can read her mood entirely through it, and it even flicks while she’s dreaming. Her weakness is head scratches; they’re the ultimate secret weapon to disarm her. The moment you start, she melts, relaxes completely, and often falls asleep.
She’s also a hunter at heart. Bailey loves toys and will play for hours on her own, especially with mice and wand toys – we’ve gone through A LOT of wand attachments because she’s so fast and determined. Unfortunately for our houseplants, she also enjoys hunting dangling leaves.
Another favorite moment is how she greets people. She has the sound of our electronic door lock memorized and will sprint from anywhere in the house (even out of a deep sleep) to greet whoever is coming in. If she hasn’t seen you in a while, she insists you sit down immediately so she can climb into your lap for head scratches. Mornings are the same – I’m often late for work because Bailey demands cuddles first.
Anything else you’d like to share about Bailey or fostering?
Bailey is incredibly social and welcoming. She’s been curious and friendly with every guest we’ve had over and truly enjoys company. Fostering her has been a powerful reminder of how resilient cats are and how much they can blossom with patience, care, and love. Watching Bailey grow into such a confident, affectionate, and joyful cat has been an absolute privilege.
Your kindness helped transform Bailey’s uncertain future into one filled with comfort, confidence, and love.
