Rescue Stories: Max - He Healed Two Broken Hearts

Hello and Happy Thursday Purrsday! I’m really purring today because we have a great story for you as part of our Rescue Stories Series.  Today I present you with Max! We met Max on Instagram (@mrpawesome) and fell in love with him.  He’s also from New York, and... he was in the same shelter as me (NYACC)!  What a small kitty world! Max had a rough start, but he’s definitely living the good life now.  Read on to see how he mended two broken hearts…
Lola

On February 27, 2013, our world came crashing down.  I was getting ready for work when our three-and-a-half-year-old cat, Theo, suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. Tragically, he passed away.  Theo was the love of our lives, and had been with us for exactly two-and-half years, to the day.  We were beyond crushed.  The experience of losing him - and the trauma of trying to get him help that rainy morning - was soul-crushing.

We knew we'd adopt again, but wanted to wait awhile.  I found solace chatting every night with others who'd recently lost pets at aplb.org (Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement). Slowly, I began to heal from the trauma.

About three weeks after Theo's passing, I felt compelled to look at online adoptable listings. I was feeling brave, a bit stronger, and thought I'd try looking at cats without getting too upset.  I browsed through the listings, and then stopped when I saw an ad for a seven-month-old smokey tabby tuxedo kitty named Max.  His mischievous expression and unusual markings drew me in.  I felt my heart race a little, the same way I'd felt when I first saw Theo's photo.

Max's Adoption Ad.  The caption read: "Meet Max! He is an adorable and very confident five month-old kitten who loves playing with his siblings, Mira and Jackey (also available for adoption) Like his siblings, Max is very comfortable around cats, kittens and dogs. He has a very unique marble coloring of black with subtle smoke/white stripes.

I cautiously showed my husband Max's photo.  "Isn't he cute?"  But it was way too soon; we were still recovering from losing Theo!  We felt torn.  Here was a little guy in need of a home.  Maybe Theo had sent him to us?  After much discussion, my husband agreed to go on a "cat interview" and see if Max wanted to come home with us.

A week later, Max joined our family. Max (we kept his name) has been an absolute joy.  He's crazy and cuddly and playful and all around delightful.

Max's classic "I want attention" pose!  He loves being on his back!

We've had a couple health scares with Max.  Shortly after he came home, I noticed something akin to mold on his paw. Then, he started having scary asthma-like coughs, and finally, raised bumps on his hind leg.  

Martini Max, recovering from another medical procedure

Many weeks of testing, medications, and paw soaks followed.  Eventually, Max's new feline dermatologist (yes, it's a thing) diagnosed him with eosiniphilic granuloma complex.  The words make it seem very scary, but basically, Max has bad environmental allergies.  He's officially allergic to most trees, molds, and even feathers, but thankfully, not humans, dogs, or other cats!  We've been able to control his coughing and lessen the leg inflammation by a special grain-free, unique protein diet, frequent cleaning, and air filters.

​Max's human contacted Animal Care and Control and was able to get a copy of Max's original intake photo.  He was found with two siblings at about three weeks of age.

We're thankful for every day we have with Max.  Hopefully in the next few years, we'll be able to adopt a friend for him. He's helped heal our hearts and made our house into a home again.

Max living the good life! 

Max lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his two humans.  You can find him on Instagram at @mrpawesome and on Facebook (MrPawesome.) Many thanks to Max's human for the photos.