Imagine a cat who embodies charm in the most unexpected ways — a grumpy old soul with baggage yet a heart full of hidden warmth. That’s Scrunkly for you. In October 2023, this white senior arrived at Cat Care Society, the perfect blend of quirky, disheveled and endearing.
Rescued from the streets of Longmont and sent to Cat Care Society, Scrunkly arrived with a hefty dose of grump and a laundry list of medical issues.
We knew Scrunkly was going to be a special case needing a high level of care. He was in poor condition and quite simply, a hot mess. He refused to be handled for his intake exam and required sedation.
Once we got a better look at what was in front of us, we realized the extent of his conditions. Chronic kidney disease, arthritis, asthma, anemia, a heart murmur and inverted eyelids were just the beginning. Add a breaking upper respiratory infection (URI) and conjunctivitis, and he was placed on an aggressive medication and treatment schedule.
But no matter how much he fought us, we were determined to give Scrunkly the care he needed.
Within a week, the first breakthrough. His URI resolved and congestion cleared. Then we discovered at least one source of pain: a mystery mass in his abdomen, which turned out to be a massive hairball we removed.
He was stable, but the road ahead had more bumps.
It was time for Scrunkly to go to a foster who could better assess his quality of life in a calmer environment. In Emma’s home, he slowly began to present another side of himself. One that started to like being pet and demand a spot on the couch, his grumbles slowly turning into greetings.
With his most urgent issues addressed and his other conditions chronic, Scrunkly was up for adoption.
This grumpy old man with a penchant for complaining was about to hit the jackpot. Dylan, a veterinary professional with a soft spot for elderly cats, stumbled on Scrunkly’s photo on Petfinder. After showing his partner, they couldn’t wait to meet him.
“At the shelter, Scrunkly was very shy, but the gingerly way he walked melted our hearts, and we decided we loved him and wanted him to live with us,” Dylan recalled.
Unafraid of his medical needs, Dylan and Dante’s patience was worth it. It took months for Scrunkly to allow them to touch him, but he slowly began to trust them. He leaned into their hands. Now, he greets them with headbutts and purrs when they come home. 
“He’s just a gem, and his grumbles melt my heart!” Dylan said. “We’re obsessed with him. He’s hilarious, and he makes us laugh all the time with his sweet and silly personality.”
We knew that Scrunkly was never going to be the world’s most affectionate, outgoing cat. But we also knew that someone would love him for exactly who he is.
What we did for Scrunkly is what we inherently do here at CCS. By figuring out what he needed and creating a plan to manage his conditions, he was set up for success.
When you donate to us, you ensure that the future Scrunklys have a shot at finding a loving home, too. Your financial support means we can continue to diagnose and treat the hardest of cases. We can say yes to helping more cats who need a second chance.
Thank you for supporting this work!
EC Michaels Executive Director
