Katrina kitty rescued off the streets Feb. 12 reuniting in Atlanta

It’s been a long six months for Cupcake the cat who has been missing since Hurricane Katrina.

She was rrescued Feb. 12 off the street where her family used to live. She was trapped during the very last stage of Best Friends Hurricane Katrina pet rescue but was friendly and wearing a collar and rabies tags.

(She's shown here with Chandra at Celebration Station before leaving for her reunion.)

The kitty was skinny and had to be treated for worms but was otherwise okay. No doubt the feeding stations set up over the last several months by AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com played a big role in keeping Cupcake alive. Stealth Volunteers helped make the match on the rabies tags.

Cupcake’s family used to live in the Gentilly area on Louisa Drive. And the cat was trapped on that street a few houses away. Her family was traced through the tags.

The kitty will be reunited with 20-year-old Tristan Carter in Atlanta today. Tristan relocated to Atlanta and one of our volunteers, Holly Cohen, was driving home to Atlanta and offered to take Cupcake with her. At home Holly volunteers for The Humane Society of Forsyth County (www.forsythpets.com).

The rest of Tristan’s family is living in Mississippi.

“Cupcake will be staying with me for a little while," she said. "But I will be taking her to Mississippi so my 13-year-old sister Toryn who is very attached to the kitty can see her. "

Tristan said when her family had to evacuate, they had to put six people in the car and had no room for Cupcake, the two dogs and the pet rabbit. But, like everyone else in New Orleans, they figured they’d be home in three days at the most.

“It feels good to know one of our pets made it through the storm," Tristan said. "We lost our grandfather. He was too stubborn to leave and his dog stayed with him. They found him a month after the storm; no one has ever found a trace of the dog. “
_______________________________________________

NOTE: All animals rescued in New Orleans are first taken to the Louisiana SPCA for triage where photos are taken and uploaded and vaccinations given before heading to the Best Friends rescue center at Celebration Station, where animals are held for 5 days before going up for adoption.

Story by Barbara Williamson
Photo by Carol Guzy