Coco, who became the store cat of Randa’s Market at 16th and Valencia streets shortly after a Waymo killed KitKat in October, has feline leukemia and no longer calls the liquor store her home.
Randa’s Market owner Mike Zeidan said the veterinarian discovered leukemia during a visit to get Coco spayed and vaccinated.
After the feline leukemia showed up in tests, Zeidan decided Coco needed a change of scenery.
“I didn’t think the environment at the store would be good, because she’s going to have a weak immune system and a lot of trips to the vet,” said Zeidan, adding that the diagnosis could be costly.
Zeidan learned of a sanctuary in Santa Rosa, California, called SNAP Cats that cares for kitties with special needs. He figured that was the place for Coco.
The only problem? SNAP Cats was full, and could not take Coco. Karen Langland, the wife of the Roxie Theater’s director of publicity, who is also a cat sitter, then offered to provide a temporary home for Coco until a space in the sanctuary opens up.
Coco’s trip to Sonoma County, however, will have to wait. Langland successfully found a foster home for the kitty.
Zeidan, who described Coco as beautiful, friendly, amazing and energetic, said the decision to let her go was not an easy one.
“Needless to say, it’s heartbreaking. We lost KitKat, and now this,” said Zeidan. “It’s a little bit hard, but we’re okay.”
“Where’s the kitty?” asked a customer as she left the store on Monday.
“She was sick,” Zeidan replied. The store owner said he would get yet another bodega cat, but there is no timeline for arrival yet. He said he would prefer a male tabby like KitKat.
That’s exactly why you don’t let your cats outside. That’s how feline leukemia is contracted, most especially when the cat is unvaccinated. This does not seem like responsible pet ownership.
Seems shockingly irresponsible to not take the cat for its shots and spaying _before_ making it an indoor/outdoor bodega cat.
Maybe cats only belong in homes and not in places of business / where they’ll run out into traffic.
Poor KitKat and Coco! I just watched a great Josh Johnson Stand-up about a Bodega Cat saga https://youtube.com/shorts/KkFRhsWA1Mg?si=QYcVGq8ZhP_6f8qB
Somehow, the detail that a beloved neighborhood cat was killed by a WAYMO gets conveniently brushed aside while the finger-pointing goes toward someone who tried to do the right thing by rescuing a cat that was potentially sick already, and then did the right thing by finding a home for her when it became evident she was sick. . . But oh, no, no, here come the “concerned” citizens.
The selective outrage is impressive. Enjoy your $10 latte on Valencia babes.