The Empress

Origin: Stray Cat
Age: 15 years old
Gender: Female

Personality: Determined, resilient, independent, and optimistic about fate, yet also stubborn with a bit of a temper. Enjoys food, loves being scratched, and spending time with the owner.

The Empress's Resilience: From Stray to Eternal Love and Hope

Even though her body was as weak as paper, the Empress's spirit remained as strong as iron. Who could imagine that a cat suffering from feline AIDS, feline calicivirus, herpes virus, and severe oral ulcers could wander alone for over ten years?

In December 2023, the hungry Empress was injured by an electric gate while searching for food, bleeding from her mouth. Concerned that she would continue to wander and suffer the same fate, a kind-hearted cat feeder became the perfect adopter for this cat, who was already over a decade old. Once she entered her new home, the Empress gradually transformed from fierce to gentle, going from avoiding contact to actively seeking affection and petting. However, despite numerous vet visits and trying every available medication, her oral ulcers never improved, and she continued to test positive for feline AIDS, calicivirus, and herpes virus. Every time she ate, the Empress would cry out in pain, yet she still made the effort to eat because she truly loved food, yearning to live despite the pain.

In May 2024, a nasal tumor was discovered. Due to her feline AIDS, chemotherapy was not an option, and she could only receive palliative care. The tumor caused her to have a runny nose and breathing difficulties, forcing her to breathe through her mouth. The mucus backflow also blocked her throat, making it impossible for her to swallow food. Her owner took her to the clinic to have an esophageal feeding tube inserted, and she was very cooperative, sitting patiently and waiting quietly during each feeding.

In July 2024, while the vet was cleaning her nose, her heart rate and breathing suddenly stopped. However, with her astonishing willpower, she successfully returned to her owner even after stepping into the realm of death. In the following days, the Empress had to breathe through her mouth, inhaling large amounts of air which caused her abdomen to swell like a balloon, leading to extreme discomfort as the trapped air obstructed her stomach and intestines. Despite her deteriorating condition, the Empress's determined, bright, and hopeful eyes, along with her iron will to survive, remained unchanged.

By August 2024, the Empress finally graduated from her struggles, no longer feeling physical pain, and her spirit will forever endure.

Campaign Statement

Do you think the Empress is very pitiable? Actually, the Empress doesn’t feel sorry for herself; instead, she considers herself very lucky because she lives happily with her owner! Although she wandered for over ten years, suffering from stomatitis, and for the last two months endured breathing difficulties due to a nasal tumor, her owner never gave up on her, and she never gave up on life.

Yes, the Empress experienced daily pain in her mouth and struggled to breathe, but what are these difficulties compared to what she faced while wandering the streets and the agony of being caught in an electric gate, which left her bleeding?

Although the Empress's physical form has departed, she no longer feels pain and enjoys true freedom! While her owner can no longer see her, she continues to be by their side every day.

It is truly remarkable and something to be proud of that the Empress was able to hold on until the very last moment. I hope everyone can cast a vote for the Empress!