Who Rescued Who? East Brunswick Woman Fights Mental Illness With Rescue Cat

As told by Nikki, a Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society volunteer, to Krystal Hasard

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ-- This spring, a local woman went through the worst period of depression and anxiety of her life.

Nikki has battled depression for nearly 15 years and knew she had to push forward and continue to do things that made her feel happy. One of those things was fostering homeless cats, as caring for them always filled her heart with the strength and compassion she sometimes had trouble finding for herself.

Saying Hello To A New Best Friend

Nikki and her family welcomed Billie Holiday, a small, female calico cat, into their home in early June. Billie had been rescued from a horrifying animal hoarding situation where she and over 90 other animals had been packed in cages in a room the size of a closet. Billie had suffered from neglect and malnutrition and it was impossible to know how long she’d been helplessly stuck there.

Billie was not Nikki’s first foster to have gone through some trauma, but she was the most emotionally scarred and, like her foster parent, it was manifesting in her health. Billie was underweight, had wiry fur, over-groomed so much she smelled badly, and threw up a lot. She hated being examined or given medication as she’d already been through so much. She’d had enough. Nikki could see the guardedness in Billie’s eyes when she approached her, and the disappointment when she tucked her into her cage for the night.

Nikki connected with Billie right away.

“A part of me suspects that we saw the pain in each other’s eyes and it created an instant bond of empathy and compassion,” said Nikki. “Billie has unusually expressive eyes, and I could see the sweet little soul who wanted to feel safe and loved. I vowed instantly that going forward, she would have a life filled with love and comfort.”

Growing Close, One Day At A Time

Billie and Nikki started to support and love each other – they both had a lot of healing to do. When Nikki felt defeated, Billie would lay on her chest and purr quietly. When Billie threw up in the middle of the night, Nikki would hold her until she fell asleep. Billie would lie diligently on the desk with her paw reached out to touch Nikki’s arm while she worked.

Slowly, but surely, they both started to get better.

“Billie’s wiry fur turned soft, she put on some much needed weight and she started to chirp and meow like a normal happy cat,” Nikki said. “I felt accomplished from helping Billie, and watching her bloom every day lifted my spirits.”

Saying Goodbye

One of the most difficult parts of being a foster caregiver is giving the animals away to their new forever homes.

Nikki had Billie for quite some time and she hadn’t been adopted. Nikki’s organization, Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society, felt that giving Billie more exposure would help her find a home, and the decision was made for her to go live at their adoption center to help move things along.

“I dropped Billie off as part of my own regular volunteer shift,” said Nikki. “She seemed to accept what was happening and laid down quietly. As soon as I closed the cage door a shopper stopped by and said, ‘Look at that cat. I’m a therapist and I know eyes that have experienced trauma when I see them. That cat has been through a lot.’ My heart almost broke!”

Billie had high spirits at first. All reports from volunteers said she was sweet and cheerful. When Nikki would come for her shift, Billie would recognize her. “I always got the feeling she was telling me, ‘It was fun meeting new people and making new friends, mom – but when are you taking me home?’ I kept hoping that she would be adopted soon,” Nikki said.

A Healing Reunion

The adoption application Nikki was hoping for never arrived, and as time went on, Billie started to regress. Instead of playing with the other cats, she would crawl into her cage and stare out the window.

One night, Nikki came in after Billie started vomiting again. She picked her up, pressed Billie against her chest and held her for nearly two hours. When it was time to go, Nikki could tell Billie felt much better.

“I’m pretty sure that was the moment I promised I would take her home forever,” Nikki said.

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Today, Nikki and Billie are both doing great. Nikki gestures to her Karma Cat + Zen Dog sweatshirt, which logo features the phrase, “healing hearts, one paw at a time,” and then gestures to Billie who is sleeping quietly beside her on the desk.

“I can’t help but wonder if when they made that logo, they meant her heart or mine,” Nikki says. “I’m pretty sure it’s both.”

All images via Heidi Beman