Meet Stella
Stella’s story is a real throwback—all the way to 2020!
Still just a kitten when she arrived at SAFe Rescue in the spring of 2020, Stella had recently been diagnosed with megaesophagus: a condition of the nerves in the esophagus (throat muscle) that makes it extra difficult to swallow food. This condition is quite rare in cats, and while it can be managed, there is no cure.
“She came to us with megaesophagus, three different medications, and a dream,” says Stella’s adopter. “Five-ish years down the line she has absolutely blossomed into a chatty, playful, sassy little tangerine queen of a cat!”
Stella at SAFe
Stella’s road to SAFe began with our very own Cody Westfall. Now an Adoption Counselor and Retention Specialist, Cody had not yet joined the Adoptions Staff in 2020, but she was active in our foster community. Through her connections with other shelters’ foster programs, Cody stumbled across an Instagram post about Stella.
“She was in Tacoma, and she was going to be put down,” Cody remembers. “I recommended the shelter reach out to SAFe. As soon as I found out we got her, I asked to foster her.”
Stella with her SAFe foster, Cody.
Cody’s no stranger to the unique experiences that come with fostering, but Stella was a first for her. She had never taken care of a cat with megaesophagus before.
“It was a journey,” Cody laughs. “She had to have mini-meals, and I would get up in the middle of the night to feed her. She had to be held after eating.” (Cats with megaesophagus, or mega-e, need to be kept upright after feedings to aid digestion and prevent regurgitation.)
Stella may have had a more regimented routine than other cats, but in foster care, she grew stronger every day. Her favorite game was chasing a feather wand around her scratching post. She even asked for belly rubs!
“She was only five pounds, such a tiny girl,” Cody says. “But she was so smart, such a sweet and loving little girl.”
Where Is She Meow
Stella went home in May 2020. How does her day-to-day life look five years later?
“She is no longer taking medication,” her adopter tells us, “But she does still eat with her bowl elevated. We hold her upright for five to seven minutes after feeding twice a day.”
Stella with her feline roommate, Pashka.
“Beyond that,” Stella’s person adds, “She runs around and plays just like any other cat! She will try to eat everything, purrs very loudly, loves chatting with us and watching birds through the window.”
For the past two years, Stella has also shared her home (and window view) with kitty-roommate, Pashka. Watching her life of luxury, you’d never guess all the medical struggles Stella has overcome.
“Thank you for helping take care of her at a very delicate time in her life,” says Stella’s adopter. “She has brightened our lives in ways that words cannot fully express!”
