Carlito

My story

This angel of a cat is truly a miracle. Carlito was a (probably abandoned pet) stray in Brooksville, being tended to as part of a group of community cats. On June 18, 2024, he literally crawled up the steps of his feeder’s home, very week and bleeding profusely from his left front leg. He was rushed to the ER, where they determined he had multiple old, necrotic wounds and several new, deep bite wounds, which were likely dog and snake. The leg needed amputation to save his life and, while under anesthesia, he was neutered and ear tipped. Carlito spent a week at the ER. When his feeder was called to pick him up, she was told to release him back outside. She rightly refused and gave him sanctuary in her home, where he did remarkably well. Fast forward to November 26, 2024 when we took possession of this handsome boy. We brought him to our vet, where he tested positive for hookworms (successfully treated) and FIV. FIV isn’t a death sentence nor is it a cause for concern in a multi-cat home. FIV positive and negative cats can easily cohabit with no issues as long as there are no deep bites. Carlito is a lover, not a fighter! We were advised to give him a week or two of rest then schedule him for a complete dental, which we did. He had a deep cleaning and only one tooth required extraction. Acclimating Carlito to the sanctuary and the other residents didn’t take long at all. It seems he’s never met a cat he didn’t like, and our residents think he’s grand! You can always find a cat or three whispering in his ear, cuddling with him as they snore away into dreamland, or conducting mutual grooming sessions. Carlito is very leery of our cat-friendly, large dog but we think with time and the proper supervision, he would grow more comfortable around a gentle dog who respects Carlito's boundaries. Losing a leg hasn’t slowed this guy down a bit. He can make it to the top of any cat tree, or the bottom levels, or anywhere in between. He quickly learned to maneuver the cat doors leading from room to room (never to outside!) When he spots his foster mom, he scampers quickly to get in front of her and flops down on his side, blocking her path and exposing his belly for rubs. If he doesn’t see her for a while, he will go to each door and call her until she comes, always requesting pets. While we’d be purrfectly happy for Carlito to stay with us, we believe he will flourish and thrive if he isn’t one of many, vying for human attention (his favorite). Carlito will make a wonderful, loving and entertaining addition to a very lucky family. DOB: 1/15/21?

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Carlito, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.