Foundation offers frail felines place to live out their days

Jan HOgan/ViewGrump, who is cared for by The Poppy Foundation, sits in a cat tree at the Bonanza Cat Hospital, Dec. 5. Jan Hogan/ViewThe Poppy Foundation President Linda Newman cradles Katie at Bonanza Cat Hospital, 7550 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 1, Dec. 5. The hospital houses the foundation, which cares for cats with serious medical conditions, such as Katie, who was abused. Advertisement

They lounge in the foyer, sleep on tiered carpet trees and greet those who stop by with a friendly meow. But these cats likely will never have a true home.

Some of them have suffered severe abuse at the hands of humans and now have chronic conditions. Some of their mothers subsisted on a poor diet while pregnant, resulting in a medically fragile status. Some of them contracted feline immunodeficiency virus, the feline version of AIDS, and need medicine twice a day.

All of them are nearly unadoptable. But all of them have a place where they're cared for, for life.

They are the kitties of The Poppy Foundation.

The cats are housed at Bonanza Cat Hospital, 7550 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 1, where they receive free veterinary care from three vets -- Blanche Pierce, Karin Lemmon and Linda Steelman. The cats are adopted out only if a person fully understands the care they require and proves they can facilitate those needs.

There are nearly 100 cats currently at the veterinary hospital under the foundation. They include Boo Boo, whose lower spine was broken by someone who purposely abused her. Polly was found under a Dumpster, where she had been hiding for three days. Her right leg and tail were partially amputated, most likely from a car fan. Hope was left at the Republic Services Recycling Center. She was born without eyelids and has had operations to try and correct that.

The lucky ones are those that come in as kittens, Steelman said. With their cute appearance and beguiling ways, they are most likely to win hearts and be taken in by a caring family.

"It's like when you're adopting a child," she said. "Most people want an infant, not a 6-year-old."

Summerlin-area resident Linda Newman is president of the foundation. She is, she said, a cat lover to her core. She started the nonprofit after learning the stories behind the medically sensitive animals that nobody wanted.

The Poppy Foundation was named after a little Siamese-mix cat that wormed her way into the hearts of those at the Bonanza Cat Hospital. Poppy was a feral cat, brought to the hospital in the fall of 1995 by a Las Vegas Valley Humane Society volunteer who had noticed her severe head tilt.

The tilt was not from curiosity. Poppy had neurological problems, and tests later revealed she also had FIV. She needed daily medications, so the hospital adopted her as its little ambassador. She showed her spunky side by swiping a paw at passing staffers, and her friendly side by sauntering out into the waiting area to greet people. But her insides were being eaten by the virus she'd contracted.

After Poppy died in September 2001, the foundation was established to help other cats with medical conditions live out their lives in relative comfort.

"I can have a rotten day ... then I come home and see my cats' faces, and that completely takes the stress away," Newman said. "They each have great little personalities."

To people who might say "These cats are no good to anyone, just put them to sleep," Newman says: "You wouldn't treat your family member that way. We can't see killing a perfectly good cat just because they need medicine every day. They deserve better."

Donations help defray the cost of medicines needed by the cats. Sales of boutique items such as carpeted cat trees and cat carry bags, which are sold at the hospital, also help support the foundation. In December, a Santa Claws photo opportunity brought in $12 per photo.

Cathy Mulkern, an accounting manager, takes her three cats to Steelman and supports the foundation by shopping in its boutique.

"I feel very strongly for these cats," she said. "I had a cat with diabetes who died 12 years ago."

To date, approximately 300 felines have been under the foundation's care. A normal house cat will live about 15 years, but The Poppy Foundation cats might live only eight years if they have something such as FIV, Steelman said.

The foundation's ultimate goal is to have a retirement home for the medically fragile cats so they can live in a house-type environment.

Donations can be made by visiting http://poppyfoundation.org or calling 228-0146.

Contact Summerlin View and South Summerlin View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.

How to help

To donate to The Poppy Foundation, visit http://poppyfoundation.org. For more information, call 228-0146.