Georgina Price and her partner Christopher recently adopted a 16-year old cat called Herbie. Sadly, the cat was dying, and even though Georgina and Christopher were fully aware of it, it still broke their heart. In just a short time, Herbie managed to touch their hearts like nothing else. At the same time, their hearts were open for a new buddy. Or in this case, buddies.
Meet Toby and Quinton
After Herbie’s passing, the couple was really saddened about all the cats who have no more than a few months left, yet are stuck in a shelter because no one wants them. They decided to do something about it and visited their local shelter to look for special cats. Georgina and Christopher found two – Quinton, a 6-year old with no teeth, and Toby, a peculiar 6-year old with tons of free skin.
Toby was suffering from what’s known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This congenital condition causes a lot of extra stretched and loose skin that’s pretty fragile. It occurs due to lack of collagen production. Although the cat looks sad because of all the loose skin, it behaves just like all cats do.
In the beginning, though, things weren’t so rosy. Quinton was playful, but Toby was too scared of human touch. Of course, this didn’t put Georgina and Christopher at all. They decided to give the cat the special attention it needs and deserves.
Eventually, both Quinton and Toby adjusted nicely to their new surroundings. After a month or so, they run the place. Toby needs extra care due to the excess folds of skin, but Georgina and Christopher don’t mind. As Toby’s mom explains, they are very lucky that the condition seems to be mild. They cut his nails to reduce the risk of injuries, but he prefers Quinton’s help. His buddy is always licking any cuts or wounds and helps Toby recover faster.
To prevent joint injuries, Toby’s mom and dad prevent him from jumping up and down on high spots. Even with his condition, Toby remains a normal cat. He likes soaking up the sun on a porch, loves to see birds fly, and snuggles with his mom and dad just like all cats do.
Toby’s Inspiring Story
Georgina is hoping that their photo story of Toby will raise awareness about the rare condition. Furthermore, she also hopes that their story will inspire others to adopt special cats. They are just like every other cat – just a tad more special.
