Ty is a four-year-old Bengal who has been in foster care with us since March. He was TERRIFIED at the shelter and they were very concerned about his Gastrointestinal issues.
In just two months’ time - Ty’s disposition and his medical issues have evaporated!
Ty has truly shown his foster family nothing but love and trust. It wasn’t an easy road, but now we know he’s ready to join a loving, forever family who will see in him, what we do.
Here is Ty’s story.
Ty had a rough start in life. Before his owner gave him up, he had likely spent his entire life outdoors, and he still carries the scars to prove it. His ears were torn up, he was skin and bones, and he was still unfixed. When a kind person offered to take Ty before our rescue stepped in, his owner simply said, “Sure, I don’t want him anymore. I don’t even like him. I spent $1,800 on him, he pees everywhere, and he doesn’t like other cats,” as if Ty were nothing more than an object to throw away.
After being rescued, Ty was neutered and eventually transferred to East Bay SPCA. At the shelter, he was terrified. He struggled with severe diarrhea, was difficult for staff to handle, and needed gabapentin almost daily just so people could safely work with him. Eventually, Bengal Rescue was asked to step in and save him.
And yet, despite everything he had been through, Ty walked into foster care purring and soaking up attention. But the moment anyone reached near his head or neck, it became painfully obvious — Ty had been abused. He would tremble at the sight of men, and with every passing day, the picture of his past became clearer.
Ty’s medical and behavioral challenges continued. His diarrhea persisted, and giving him medication became incredibly difficult. We tried everything: FMT capsules, Pro-Pectalin, GI food, even fluoxetine to help manage his anxiety enough to take his pills. Nothing truly worked until we tried switching him to a raw diet. That decision changed everything for Ty. It’s likely he had lived with chronic GI discomfort his entire life, neglected and untreated by his previous owner. But since transitioning to raw rabbit, Ty has absolutely thrived — and most importantly, he finally loves his food.
Since then, things have finally started to fall into place, and Ty is ready for the second chance he has always deserved.
It’s clear now that Ty DOES like other cats. Once he was neutered, the spraying completely stopped, and he quickly bonded with many of the cats in his foster home. He would do best in a household where he can build strong bonds with his humans. Men may take a little more time, but Ty is slowly learning that they can be safe too.
Now that his anxiety is being managed with fluoxetine, Ty gets the zoomies, plays tag with the other cats, and excitedly waits for mealtimes he can count on and trust. He will absolutely let you know — very loudly — when it’s time to eat. And this guy simply LOVES his Catio. We’re pretty certain that the Catio is what sped his emotional and physical healing. If his new home was willing to offer him a Catio - he’d love it.
Despite every hardship he has endured, Ty still loves being petted. Little by little, he is learning how to trust again. He now curls up in his foster’s lap, something she once thought would never be possible. After everything he has survived, watching Ty finally feel safe has been nothing short of incredible.
Ty is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and has tested negative for FeLV / FIV.
If you have a warm lap for Ty to snuggle in - please apply!
