City Hall Cat Gets New Lease on Life
City Kitty, an arthritic cowcat who lives a the Naples, Florida, City Hall, has a new lease on life thanks to a concerned and caring citizen.
Last month, LaVeeda Krumm took the feral cat to Harborside Animal Clinic, after she noticed a problem with the cat’s overgrown nails. At the clinic, tests revealed that City Kitty had advanced arthritis and hyperthyroidism, a common affliction in older cats.
The vets at the clinic ministered to City Kitty, but the price tag was a steep $439.
Dr. Ruth Eisel, a vet at the clinic, said that when City Kitty was brought in, the clinic was told people would be pitching in to help cover the costs. Unfortunately, the funding didn’t materialize and the three doctors in the practice had to pay the expenses themselves.
“When it came to chip in, there was no one there except for LeVeeda Krumm,” said Eisel. “The doctors said to ourselves, (the cat) was promised help, so we put our own money toward the cat.”
Two weeks after the visit to the vet, Councilwoman Penny Taylor sent a memo to her colleagues asking city employees to pitch in to help offset the medical expenses.
“We love her,” Taylor wrote. “We need help with this bill and a collection station has been established at the volunteer desk in the downstairs lobby of City Hall.” Unfortunately, donations have been very slow in coming in.
Taylor said she was relieved to learn that Krumm took City Kitty to the doctor.
“I’ve been worried about her,” Taylor said. “She’s very wily.”
City Kitty is just one of several cats that lives near City Hall, said Naples Mayor Bill Barnett. Barnett estimates she’s been around City Hall for about 15 years.
“I’ll tell you it adds a personal touch,” Barnett said about having a city pet. “This is not a bleak gray drab atmosphere around here. We’re filled with good old normal people. It’s a warm fuzzy.”
An overactive thyroid means City Kitty needs to take medication twice a day, which is hard to do with an feral cat. But Krumm said she’s doing her best to make sure City Kitty gets it at least once a day.
Being the City Kitty has its perks: In 2006 city employees built her a cat house to keep her out of the elements during bad weather.
Donations for City Kitty’s medical expenses are being accepted at
Naples City Hall,
735 Eighth Street South
Naples, FL 34102
[LINK/PHOTOS: NaplesNews.com]
Woot fur City Kitty!
Hi Skeezy, A wonderful happing for City Kitty!
I think it’s pawsome that City Kitty got the medical attention she needed.
What I don’t understand is if this kitty was as loved as the Council woman says she is, why didn’t someone from the city take her to the vet & make sure she was cared for?
Why not take care of (read spay/neuter etc) the other kitties that hang around City Hall too?
I’m glad they are allowing them to live there & not just trapping & killing like so many other places do. But they need to step up a bit more in helping the kitties too.
I’m glad to see some vets do have a heart and indeed want to help, they will surely be blessed for their kindness. I don’t understand how anyone could not want to help another animal.
is it for free