Thomas (Special Needs)'s story

　　Looking for a shadow you can actually touch & hug and love and it will love you back? Meet Thomas! Thomas was a "ward of IACS until last November when one of the fosters from AOSC spotted him cowering in and his little cage. She brought him home with her and set him on her bed and that is where he remained until she picked him up again. AOSC went to work trying to find out what the problem might be. He weighed less than 3 pounds at the time. After lots of testing and observation, it was determined that Thomas would benefit from physical therapy - he couldn't move his neck well enough to groom himself. Xrays showed a fractured and then healed vertebrae. He's had 4 physical therapy sessions and his progress is remarkable! In between sessions, his foster mom did home therapy. At this point, Thomas is grooming and interacting with the other cats in the foster home. He plays both with the others and alone (chasing a "mouse through the house or a dangling toy). He eats lots of little meals throughout the day - his stomach is very small and so he only eats small amounts at a time. We try to feed him highly caloric foods, but he is still barely over 3 pounds. Despite his frailty (he usually falls over when you set him down), he's a very loving little guy - her purrs at your touch and jumps right up after falling over. He still struggles with some of his motor skills due to some slight neurological issues. He follows his foster mom from room to room at all times unless he is sleeping. He likes to eat and loves soft treats. The family lucky enough to add him to their family will need to keep up with his physical therapy at home. He has one more session at VCA Advanced Veterinary Care in Fishers, so you can learn what he needs going forward (daily massages and lots of exercise). He would do best in a home with playful small dogs and/or cats. Thomas has his own video series chronicling him from his neurology consultation through physical therapy. Head over to /Thomas to learn even more about him! Thomas is being fostered in Fortville. If you'd like to set up a meet or greet or have additional questions, please email us at kmay@shelbypets.com.