Tika

Tika came into the Zoo quite suddenly in mid-October 1998. I had stopped at the vet's office to post a flyer from one of my fellow rescuers. As I turned to leave, an older gentleman and his girlfriend walked in the door. The woman was holding a plastic draw-string bag and there was a square head with the most beautiful face I'd ever seen poking out of the opening. She's a dilute tortoiseshell - instead of the usual orange, black, and some white, she's pale peach, soft charcoal grey, and a little white. The left side of her face is peachy with a little white near her lips; the right has a lovely grey balloon to just under her eye. She has a grey widow's peak that comes down to the bridge of her nose. She's truly breathtaking. And, she's a polydactyl - she has 6 toes on her left front paw, and 7 on the right. (The 7th toe is the first phalanx only, no claw.)

Tika, day 1

Being the sucker I am for a pretty face, I oohed and ahhed over her, and they told me her owner had died 5 days ago and the owner's relatives had dumped Tika on the street. She's just 8 months old (tops) and had obviously been well-loved and taken care of - no mites, fleas, gingevitis, etc. - she's sturdy, and affectionate, and gentle. And her coat is incredibly glossy and silken to the touch. In a heartbeat, I knew we were meant for each other. Five minutes later, Tika was in a carrier borrowed from the vet and was on her way home. And here she'll stay.

Tika, day 4