King Otitis Otitis, an 11-year-old cat with quite the peculiar look, was left with the Feline Rescue Association of Baltimore after his previous owners were unable to afford vet care to treat his infected ears. Due to the extensive infection, Otitis needed to have his ears amputated. Molly Lichtenwalner, who now resides in Lancaster, had been battling anxiety after a car accident when she found Otitis’ profile on an adoption website. “I grew up with cats and have experience with deaf animals, so when I was looking for a cat to adopt to help calm my anxiety, I decided I wanted one that needed a special home. When I saw Otitis, I thought ‘I just have to meet this cat.’ I inquired about him, and I was the only one to apply to adopt him.” At first, Molly was uncertain when she brought him home. “I was told to keep him in a quiet, isolated room so he could adjust. It made me a little nervous, but Otitis completely broke those rules. He was king from day one.” Otitis quickly became a part of Molly’s family, zooming around her house, cuddling, and enjoying all the pleasures of having a loving home. “He was my last hope to get my anxiety in check. He will synch his purring with my breathing to help me calm down. Thanks to him, I am no longer battling the anxiety that followed me for four years after my accident. We needed each other.”
“When I saw Otitis, I thought ‘I just have to meet this cat.’ I inquired about him, and I was the only one to apply to adopt him.”
“The only limitations deaf cats have is they can’t free roam outdoors, and you have to be attentive to where they go in your house since you cannot call them. We know all of Otitis’ favorite spots, so he is easy for us to find. He also responds to vibrations.” Additionally, Otitis needs ongoing monitoring since the cysts in his ears can return, though he has only needed one intervention since being adopted. Aside from his appearance, it would be hard for someone looking at his life to know he was different from the average cat. Otitis loves his catnip banana, treats, people, and basking on the deck. “I think that animals with special needs have been through so much more, and have so much more love to give. People tell us all the time that Otitis is the best cat they’ve ever met, and because people see how great he is, they have been inspired to adopt pets with special needs as well. He is creating a change in how people perceive disabilities.”
Keller & Calamity Keller and Calamity of Keller’s Cause are prime examples of how genetics can play a role in disabilities. Keller and Calamity are known as double merles, which occur when breeding two merle patterned dogs together. In these litters, each puppy has a 25% chance of being a double merle. Double merles are often blind, deaf, or vision or hearing impaired; however, they are also entirely preventable through