Morel is More Than Meets the Eye

Before & After

Morel arrived at Dane County Humane Society a scruffy and sickly kitty. He and his littermates were bloated from internal parasites and covered with the lesions associated with a bad case of ringworm.

But ringworm and shelters do not mix. Ringworm is highly contagious and many shelters euthanize cats with it to avoid outbreaks. He and his siblings were lucky they had landed at Dane County Humane Society where we have a cutting-edge treatment program that allows us to save kittens like Morel. He and his siblings (Portobello, Puffball, and Truffle aka the Mushroom Mob) entered the Dermatophyte Treatment Program as small, runty, crusty things to emerge 53 days later as beautiful healthy kittens ready to find their forever homes.

In the ringworm trailer Morel captured the hearts of our volunteers with his vibrant , loving personality all while enduring twice weekly lyme sulfur dips. He greeted all with a crazy bursts of energy and welcomed hugs and kisses from the volunteers.

Then the day before his scheduled graduation from the program Morel was uncharacteristically quiet. He was lethargic and panting, with pale gums and sad eyes. He was taken to the Emergency Clinic for Animals where x-rays showed fluid in his lungs.  He was placed in an oxygenated incubator and given medicine to dry up the fluid in his lungs and to prevent infection. Morel had most likely inhaled some of the lyme sulfur during his final dip and this led to a build-up of fluid in his lungs.

After a worrisome night Morel awoke in the morning much like his old self, active and animated. He gave everyone a scare and to be on the safe side he spent a few weeks in foster care to ensure he had recovered from his misadventure.

Morel in Foster Care & at the Shelter

He was later neutered and put up for adoption where he met and charmed Paige. Here’s her story:

"In July, after the sudden loss of our beloved cat "Cousin Ed" we ventured out to find another feline friend.  With two toddlers and one set-in-his-ways cat already in our home this would not be "the first one that chooses me" selection process.  For the first time in my life I had criteria for my next family cat.

We began our search at a Dane County Humane Society Mounds Satellite Adoption Center where none of the cats matched our criteria:  a cat young enough to grow up with our girls but not so young as to be an irritant to our cat at home, playful, and yet still a cuddle bug.  With two disappointing ventures to satellite adoption centers behind us we decided to make the trek to the main shelter on Voges Road.  We will forever be grateful that we did because there, strolling through the cat area, we found Morel.

Somehow that sleeping ball of orange fur managed to pull, and pull hard, at my heart.  After delighting my children with acts of great silliness (which had me slightly concerned about his compatibility with our staid cat at home), Morel curled into my lap and resumed his nap.  The deal was done.  I was in love and we had a new feline friend.

In the months since, Morel has continued to delight my children with both his silliness and his enormous capacity for affection.  Our home is full of Morel's boundless energy and we couldn't be happier."

Morel with One of His New Best Friends

Morel was special from the outset. Some cats are reserved, some cats are outgoing... but Morel was both and much more all bundled into a cute fluffy package. Plus he continues to help other shelter animals. His ringworm lesions were so classic-looking that with the help of some close up photography, workers at the shelter use images of his infection to help them identify ringworm visually.