Mika – A New Year, A New Beginning On January 2, 2026, this 15-month-old girl (born in the fall of 2024) arrived frozen and frostbitten — all four paws severely damaged, her tiny 4.9-pound body frail, anemic, emaciated, malnourished, and burdened with internal parasites. And yet… She was friendly. Fierce. Determined. Her will to live? Absolutely remarkable. Each paw required careful, painstaking cleansing and gentle removal of impacted debris from her delicate toes, followed by protective bandaging as she began to heal. The tip of her tail — 4½ centimeters lost to the frigid temperatures that had cut off its blood supply — had to be amputated once she was finally strong enough for surgery. She was spayed at that time as well, officially closing the chapter on survival and opening the door to stability. And, just 6 weeks after her arrival, I had to perform extensive oral surgery on her due to a painful condition known as stomatitis, which required that I extract all her teeth except her four canines. In most cases this procedure eliminates the inflammation present (think of being allergic to your own teeth), but in Miss Mika’s case, she also has required long-lasting injectable steroids in order to treat what may turn out to be a somewhat chronic condition. Her name, Mika, is Japanese in origin and means “new moon” — a symbol of renewal and fresh beginnings. It couldn’t be more fitting. Today, Mika (pronounced ‘mee-kuh’) is settling in nicely. She’s still figuring out how she feels about sharing space with so many other cats. For the most part she keeps to herself, occasionally voicing her opinion with a soft growl if someone forgets about personal boundaries. Given time and space, she may do well with one respectful feline companion in a large enough home, but currently we feel that she will thrive in a home of her own, without any other cats to contend with. She would be a wonderful addition to a family with older children who understand that resilience often comes wrapped in sensitivity. As for her “dad,” Aspen — whom we acquired several weeks later and who arrived in much better condition — she was not inclined to embrace that that reunion. For now, Mika is very much a teenager out enjoying her independence… no parental supervision required. From frozen and failing to fabulous and flourishing, Mika is proof that even after the coldest nights, a new moon rises! Just a note regarding future care for her oral issues: if you are interested in adopting one of our cats with a chronic illness or condition that may require more frequent veterinary care, please don’t let that deter you, as we have special programs available to make long term care more affordable