Written by Stefanie Bergmann – Co-Founder of Luna Cat Rescue
Professional photography by Marc Berman Photography
Donna lived with her owner in a shack in Khayelitsha until January 2021, when her owner was informed that her shack was soon to be demolished and she had nowhere to go with her cat. So, she made the tough decision to surrender Donna to Mdzananda Animal Clinic, along with the four kittens she’d just birthed.
Mdzananda sterilised, tested and vaccinated Donna and then signed her and her kittens over to their official cat adoption partner, Luna Cat Rescue.
Donna had what we thought to be snuffles – her eyes were constantly weeping and looked gunky – when we placed her in one of our foster homes. Our vets tried various eye medications on her, but without success. Donna’s case was becoming a bit of a mystery, as she was otherwise healthy and happy.
Eventually, the veterinary team suggested sedating her so they could take a closer look at her eyes. That’s when we learned that Donna doesn’t have tear ducts in either of her eyes due to a genetic defect. Tear ducts are supposed to drain excess tears into the back of the nose, and from there, into the throat, but without them, the eyes are constantly “overflowing” with tears. The mystery was finally solved!
Rehoming adult cats is already challenging, and so many people insist on adopting a kitten, but now rehoming became even more of a challenge as Donna needed a home that would love and care for her despite her imperfection.
A few people showed interest initially, but then shied away when they saw more pictures of her. We felt so sad for Donna, as she was such a loving little creature, always up for a cuddle and constantly purring.
Five months after we’d taken Donna in, I was contacted by an old family friend – her daughter Saskia van der Want was looking into adopting an adult cat that could keep her company during the many years of studying she has ahead of her.
I told Saskia about Donna and her medical condition and said that we were struggling to find a home for Donna. She didn’t hesitate and immediately wanted to see pictures and then arranged for a meet-and-greet.
The moment Saskia saw Donna, she fell in love with her and ended up taking her home the same day.
Donna now has an Instagram profile, where doting cat mom Saskia posts regular updates (“donnaisafrog”).
Saskia, Donna’s new owner, shares…
I’ve always wanted a cat. But all my life I’ve lived in a no-pet apartment with rule-abiding parents. After my first year at Stellenbosch University, I moved into an apartment with my high school best friend. We often joked about adopting a cat, and eventually, we wore each other down and decided that we’d adopt a whiskered friend.
We planned to find an old, quiet cat that wouldn’t mind spending her days in a small apartment with two at-home students and not much action. Upon contacting Steffi, she told me about Donna and sent me some pictures. Instantly, I was in love. Donna was younger than what I was looking for, and smaller too, but I knew she was for me!
Donna has truly changed my life. She’s the most loving, cuddly, talkative cat. Her saucepan eyes and round belly give her a cartoon-esque appearance. Her legs are too short for her body and her tail is barely 10cm long. My dad described her as “made of all the spare parts at the cat factory”. Despite all this, she has the biggest personality in the apartment. She only plays with string; she regularly launches attacks on the hallway carpet and loyally guards the bathroom door whenever it’s occupied. She brings her kibble to me and I imagine she sees it as some kind of picnic when we sit together on the bed while she eats.
Donna is a lap cat with huge attitude and is truly my best furry friend. I’m so grateful to Steffi for connecting me to my sweet angel.
