When her new father laid eyes on her, he was smitten with love 💞 Duchess the cat, despite her crooked jaw, still rules her domain as the beloved queen.
In October 2015, a random cat showed up at the Adobe Animal Hospital and Clinic in Texas, limping from being hit by a car. Thankfully, a kind-hearted person took her to the clinic for help.
Crystal Tate, an employee at Adobe Animal Hospital, shared that Duchess was fortunate to have been saved, as many other places would have chosen to euthanize her instead.
Crystal Tate
The staff at the hospital took a leap of faith with Duchess, a flame point Siamese cat, and successfully fixed her severely broken jaw.
Crystal Tate
However, Duchess still had a ways to go on her recovery journey. She stayed at the clinic for a whole month post-surgery, needing to use a feeding tube and take multiple medications. The odds of her pulling through were not in her favor.
Crystal Tate shared that despite facing adversity, Duchess persevered and survived the challenges. However, she was left with a misaligned jaw, difficulty opening her mouth, chewing, and only a few teeth remaining after the ordeal.
Crystal Tate
But that didn’t prevent Tate from developing strong feelings for her.
“I first encountered her on my initial visit to the clinic,” Tate recalled. “Her mouth was in the midst of healing, having just had the feeding tube removed, and she was visibly frail. It was the softest of meows that drew me in – her sorrowful eyes and comforting purrs conveyed a mix of despair and optimism.”
Crystal Tate would spend time every day petting Duchess and engaging in conversation with her. When the doctors suggested that she take Duchess home permanently, Tate didn’t hesitate in agreeing, feeling deep down that their connection was meant to be and they were destined to be together.
Crystal Tate explained that she never had experience caring for a special needs cat, and her cat had never been a special needs cat before, but they both have grown and adapted together.
Crystal Tate, a 3-year-old pup, now resides in a household alongside her furry siblings – Joshua the Siberian husky, Peaches the bichon, and Oliver the feline.
Crystal Tate shared that Duchess has been a beloved member of their family since November of last year. Tate mentioned how Duchess confidently roams around as if she is the queen of the house. She also expressed how Duchess’s spirited personality shines through, as she enjoys playfully knocking things down as part of her daily routine.
Duchess taking a snooze next to Joshua | Crystal Tate
During mealtime, Duchess enjoys a hearty blend of canned food mixed with water to create a tasty soup-like meal that she happily slurps up with her tongue.
Crystal Tate shared that she and Duchess are still in the process of understanding each other’s preferences and assisting Duchess in adjusting to her new lifestyle. Despite the challenges, Tate expressed that they are fully dedicated to Duchess’s well-being and are grateful for the progress she has made. Tate also mentioned that Duchess has undergone additional treatments since joining her household, but her resilience and progress continue to amaze them, making them immensely proud.