Cat Depot: The lucky 13

This baker’s dozen of delectably named cats can’t be contained in a box.

On Jan. 16, 2015, Charlotte County Animal Control removed 58 cats from a hoarding situation in a home. Many of the cats were ill or had infections in desperate need of treatment. Cat Depot accepted 13 of the worst cases in the group to rehabilitate. These 13 were dubbed the “Baker’s Dozen,” each named after doughnuts.

Many of the cats were missing teeth, partially blind and fighting off infections. As they recovered, their personalities began to emerge. After recovering, all 13 were adopted into homes.

On June 3 — National Doughnut Day — Cat Depot invited volunteers and friends to celebrate the reunion of some of the Baker’s Dozen. Not all of the cats were able to make the event, but those who did enjoyed a video, while their humans enjoyed doughnuts and reminiscing about how each cat has progressed.

Some adopters renamed the cats, while others kept their sugary-sweet names.

Volunteer Cathy Worster adopted Sprinkle. Originally, she thought the name Sprinkle was a funny fit because he would sleep in his litter box but pee in his bed.

“He was the craziest one of the bunch,” Worster said.

Sprinkle only weighed 4 pounds when he first arrived at Cat Depot. He’s blind in one eye and has cloud vision in the other, but he’s perfectly content in the home Worster has made for him.

Katie and Mike Ross adopted Siya, formerly known as Jelly, about a year ago.

“We were looking for a cat that fit in with our other three cats, and she just did,” Katie Ross said.

Siya is a multicolored cat with a perpetual wink. She lost one of eyes to infection as a result of her prior living conditions.
Cat Depot employee Nancy Adamo and her husband Chris adopted Boston and decided to keep his doughnut-derived name.

“We’re proud of his heritage,” Chris Adamo said.

The Adamos give Boston special food because of kidney issues. Boston was wary of people at first, but he’s improved and now loves to play.

From the Baker’s Dozen also emerged Cat Depot spokescat Bow Tie, formerly known as Glaze. Nancy Colby adopted him and transformed him into the spokescat and an ambassador for cats with special needs.

“They lost their tails, eyes, teeth — but not their hearts,” Colby said of the Baker’s Dozen. “These cats lived half of their lives in a terrible situation. We can start from now and give them a better second half of their lives.”