05/22/2026
$5 Friday for Miss Myrtle!
Normally today would be our weekly trapping roundup, but this week was a lighter one with only 2 cats caught while volunteers juggled life, work, fosters, vet runs, and rescue chaos. So instead, we figured it was finally time to introduce yinz to the old lady from the Slopes, so meet Miss Myrtle!
Myrtle first appeared at the Slopes colony back in February. She was already ear tipped, constantly crying, and always getting chased away from food by the other ferals. She refused traps for months, but as she started losing weight, we knew she needed help. During the same week we trapped Brave, Myrtle was finally caught too.
At the vet, we learned Myrtle is at least 10 years old and has no teeth.
As neighbors started talking, we learned the heartbreaking truth that Myrtle was never feral at all. She belonged to an elderly couple nearby, but after the wife passed away and the husband moved in with family, Myrtle was left behind to survive outside alone.
She didn’t know how to compete for food, defend herself, or survive on the streets. She was just trying her best.
Her bloodwork showed some abnormalities that could be related to her time outside, allergies, an autoimmune issue, or even very early kidney disease. Her skin scrape was negative and we’re still waiting on fungal culture results. She’ll go back in about 3 weeks for repeat bloodwork so we can hopefully get more definitive answers.
Despite everything, Myrtle has been incredibly tolerant and sweet, even while she relearns how to trust people again.
We’d love to find this old lady a foster home where she can finally feel safe, warm, and spoiled. She’d probably prefer being someone’s only cat and would need separated from resident cats for now while we sort out her skin issues.
If you’d like to give this old lady a chance, please consider applying to foster.
Foster Application —> bit.ly/otnrc_foster
Between her initial exam and this week’s follow-up bloodwork, we’ve already spent about $290 on Myrtle alone. If you’d like to help offset her care costs, it would mean the world to us and to Myrtle.
Donate:
Givebutter —> bit.ly/otnrc_donate
PayPal —> paypal.me/oaklandtnrcoalition
Venmo —> venmo.com/u/OaklandTNR
