Rescue Cat Loses His Ears and Tail to Frostbite, Then Couple Visit Shelter

A one-eyed rescue cat who lost his ears and part of his tail to frostbite is finally learning what it means to be loved after being adopted.  

While it’s unclear what happened to Klaus the cat in the past, he certainly didn’t have it easy. Living on the streets in the freezing cold of Saskatchewan, Canada took its toll and he developed frostbite. It’s also possible that Klaus got into a fight with another animal and scratched his eye in the process, ultimately requiring it to be removed.

After arriving at the shelter, Klaus was given the medical treatment he needed, including partial amputations to his tail and ears, and surgery on his eye. Of course, his background meant that Klaus was a little different to other cats and wasn’t necessarily the first choice for potential adopters.

That was, until Jasmine Haughey and her husband Jordan arrived. Haughey, 33, told Newsweek that she knew Klaus would “be a good fit” for their home, and she didn’t have any hesitations about adopting him.

So, on January 22, 2023, Klaus was finally adopted and ready to start a new chapter in his forever home.

“My husband said it was my decision, and the second I heard that I got on the phone with the shelter to give them my credit card information for the adoption fee and we were on our way,” Haughey said.

“We don’t know what happened to Klaus’ eye, but it needed to be removed. It had essentially exploded in his head. The veterinarian suspected that he had gotten into a fight with another animal and it got scratched and then severely infected,” she continued.  

Klaus was still recovering from surgery following his adoption, but Haughey was taken aback by how relaxed he seemed. She noticed how “unbothered he seemed” following all the procedures and changes to his body. Rather than being stressed or overly anxious, Klaus quickly became playful and confident.

Haughey and her husband took their time before introducing Klaus to their resident pets, including two cats, a dog, and a lizard. Overall, they all accepted Klaus and went easy on him, much to Haughey’s delight.

“Klaus had never lived in a house or among humans before, and it showed. We had to keep an eye on him until he figured out how everything works because a toilet, a stovetop, even a couch were all new things. He wasn’t fearful of us, but he wasn’t particularly affectionate for the first few months,” Haughey said.

With patience and care, Klaus become one of the cuddliest cats Haughey’s ever known. Within months, he would come to her for cuddles and happily lay in her arms.

His physical disabilities don’t really hold Klaus back, although he does move around somewhat differently. Rather than scanning a room with his eyes, Klaus will use his paws to feel his way around.

Haughey is so glad she took a chance on Klaus, and she’s truly grateful that he’s part of the family. She has even started a TikTok account just for the rescue cat (@littlemisterklaus), and a post documenting how his adoption was “meant to be” has melted hearts online. At the time of writing, the TikTok post has over 35,500 views and more than 7,000 likes.

“Klaus is an absolute joy to live with,” Haughey told Newsweek. “He’s wary of strangers, but once he’s evaluated you (for several months) and decides you’re in his inner circle, he flops into your lap and purrs. He gives big drooly kisses and is obsessed with water—I don’t think he’s even aware that he’s different anymore.

She continued: “We strongly encourage people to consider adopting a dog or a cat from a shelter. They’re fantastic companions who just need to be given an opportunity. Everything that you pour into them, you’ll get back tenfold.”

Many TikTok users have taken to the comments section to share how happy they are that Klaus found his happily ever after.

One comment reads: “he looks like a well-loved teddy.”

Another TikTok user wrote: “I love it when I see animals getting the love and respect they all deserve.”

While one commenter added: “His scars tel about a hard past life. He is a true champion.”

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