In 2019, my husband, Adam, and I met our first Hemo Hero at Happy Cats Haven: a 13-year-old black cat named Jacob, pictured below.
We had no idea what a hemo cat was until a Happy Cats staff member explained why Jacob had a shaved neck: He had just given his last blood draw at the lab where he’d been living for years. Hemo cats are kept as blood donors for animals in need. The local hemo lab normally gets them from the euthanasia list at humane societies. In other words, as the staff member said, “Hemo cats share their nine lives.”
We adopted this hero and worked to give him the retirement he deserved. Jacob, who had given so much to other cats, continued to give to us: joy, laughter and lessons about being happy in all circumstances. Jacob died in January of age-related issues. He was almost 20. Despite our utter devastation, we decided in March that our other cat, Lambert, needed a new friend.
We considered a kitten, but then we checked the Happy Cats website and saw a magnificent Grumpy Cat face: Fritz, a black, 13-year-old cat was up for adoption. His neck was shaved, and we knew even before reading his bio that he was a Hemo Hero! Adam said, “Maybe he was friends with Jacob at the lab!”
So we brought Fritz home. We know we’re opening our hearts to another cat who may not have as many years left as a kitten would. But we have no choice! These big-hearted Hemo Heroes deserve to have retirements filled with love and warm homes and treats, and we intend to give Fritz everything!
