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Story submitted by Ruthann Logsdon Zaroff from Belleville, Michigan.

I lost my beloved foster kitty Namir to feline infectious peritonitis several months ago. That meant I was a one-kitty home, which was not acceptable. But I waited until the time was right. Last week was the right time, and I decided to get a rescue kitty.

CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / JACLOU-DL

I went to a local no-kill rescue shelter and almost instantly fell in love with my Izzy-Belle. Her back story is horrific. She was abandoned in the bitter cold and found herself literally frozen to a cement porch for many days. When she was finally rescued, she had lost one side of her fur and skin to frostbite, eventually the tips of her ears fell off, and she had essentially lost use of her hind legs due to being frozen in one position for a long time.

The rescue shelter took her in, tracked her microchip (her former owners refused to take her back!), and began the long and arduous road to rehabilitation. They had to replace bandages every day. Keep in mind, this is a rescue shelter – this was a costly procedure. This shelter is an amazing sanctuary for many lost kitties.

When I went to the shelter, I was lovingly introduced to many available kitties, but I kept going back to my sweet Izzy. She came when she was called, and was wearing a fetching red feathered collar. I couldn’t say no.

PHOTO: RUTHANN LOGSDON ZAROFF

Izzy has fully recovered (although her ear tips haven’t grown back, but that lends her a sweet, quirky look!). She runs around my house like a crazy cat, sleeps with me all night, and gives my other kitty, Titus Andronicus, a run for his money!

This article was originally published on The Animal Rescue Site.