Bandit almost slipped through the cracks when he was picked up by police in rough shape. He was almost released to a feral cat colony, then was almost taken to a no-kill shelter, but he showed that he is a socialized and affectionate boy who deserves a good home. Bekah Wilcox is Bandit’s champion and is seeking the right adopter for him.
“What’s not to love about Bandit? He is handsome, friendly with all people and cats, and impeccably clean!”
“Bandit slept in bed the whole night during his sleepover at my place. He is the most excellent bedtime cuddler and will hone in on his lapcat skills in no time!“
The two photos above were taken a few days ago when Bandit had a sleepover at Bekah Wilcox’s house. The images taken in a domestic setting show him as the pampered house cat he can be and not the poor wretch he was, not long ago. Bekah shared the stories of Pom Pom and Bella with us last year, and has written about Bandit, the cat she saved from falling through the cracks, and who needs a home.
Bekah writes:
Bandit was apprehended by police on April 29th after a Brooklyn woman called the cops about an injured feral cat in her backyard.
Thinking he had been hit by a car, the cops brought him to a vet. He was sedated for his exam but when no apparent injuries were found he was neutered and ear tipped to be released back to a feral cat colony.
During recovery he demonstrated that he is actually very friendly but when he tested positive for FIV* I stepped in to help find placement for him.
As I got to know Bandit I noticed things weren’t quite right. He was drooling a lot and I could see a mass under his tongue when he meowed. While the mass was being removed for biopsy, so were 5 teeth, one which was badly infected. The biopsy came back benign and as he recovered from his mouth surgery he became calmer and friendlier so it was time to take him out of the cage.
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From the moment I saw Bandit walk I knew something was wrong. His back legs were so skinny and they would occasionally slip out from under him. He also did this funny thing where he stretched a leg out behind him, almost paralell to the floor.
After visiting with Bandit a couple times, we decided to do xrays. Sure enough, Bandit’s pelvis was broken. It’s an old injury so there is nothing that can be done, but hopefully with a wellness program and regular exercise the strength in Bandit’s rear legs will improve.
I was supposed to take Bandit to a no-kill rescue in New Hampshire on May 27th, so I brought him home the night before to get started early in the morning.
That night Bandit proved to me that he is one of the most special cats I could ever meet and I decided that after all he’s been through — surviving an injury on the street, living with a painful infection in his mouth and being apprehended by the police — Bandit deserves a loving forever home where he can sleep in a warm bed every night.
Bandit is a character. He meows for attention and loves to have his head scratched. If you ignore him too long he will flop over on his side, sticking his paws in the air!
He also LOVES other cats. He talks to them as if to introduce himself, “Hi, I’m Bandit and I would like to be your friend.” The night he stayed with me he chirped conversationally with all our cats through the bedroom door.
Despite him being FIV+ I decided to introduce him to one of my own and see what happened. He was SUCH a gentleman, cautiously approaching Pom Pom, letting her sniff him, and when she hissed he retreated to his corner. He seemed so sad that she did not want to be his friend.
Bandit has been living in a cage for over a month. He needs a home to get proper exercise for his injured pelvis and the love he craves. He is currently boarding at the vet,
If you are interested in adopting Bandit please contact Bekah Wilcox on Facebook or email bekah.[email protected]. An application, references and home visit required.
NOTE: Bekah does not ordinarily adopt the kitties she is helping to people living our of her area, but says she will adopt to someone further away is they come and pick up Bandit personally – no transport. Home visits can be conducted by a rescuer near the adopter’s home.
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*FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiancy Virus. According to Best Friends Animal Society’s article, “FIV: Catching a Bad Case of Rumors”:
– FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.
– FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually – like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing.
– The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)
– A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.
Read more on the myths and facts of FIV here: http://
So, did Bandit find a home yet? We have 3 rescue kitties at home with our elder cat, that makes 4! We have no room for another right now, but will be sending energy to the Universe to find the right place for him!