Yes, we have two cats named “Oreo”, but this Oreo is not to be confused with our FIV+ guy of the same name. This Oreo is also black and white, with a black patch over his nose, another on his head (over his ears) , a black tail, and a number of black patches on his otherwise white coat.

Oreo has hypertropic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart disease in cats. Currently, Oreo requires no meds for his condition, only regular ultrasounds of his heart to make sure his heart disease is not progressing. It is not certain at this time whether his condition will remained unchanged for quite some time or if it will progress more quickly.

Our understanding is that this poor cat was somehow trapped in the wall of a house for some time (we were told it was for 3 weeks, but that seems improbably long to us). We’re not sure just how he got out, but when he did, frightened and hungry, he bit his owner, who promptly took him in to a vet to have him euthanized. Let me ask you: what kind of mood would you be in after spending time trapped in a wall?

Luckily, the vet decided Oreo deserved better, and that’s how he came to us. He’s a gorgeous boy, roughly 12 years old (as of 1/10), and, while still scared, he’s not at all aggressive. We have moved Oreo from a suite into a smaller room, where he appears to be happier and has made good progress with people (he’s still rather spooked by dominant cats, though). We think the vet’s note to us says it all: “Oreo needs to be loved and to learn to trust again.” Won’t you help him?

Update: Oreo has made significant progress. Sit down in his room, and he’ll often come over to sit by your side. He’s still easily scared, especially by dominant cats, but he enjoys being petted.