From Life in Prison to Life of the Party: Meet Jane and Vivi

When a PETA investigator went undercover at The Veterinarians’ Blood Bank (TVBB)—a gruesome operation in Indiana that keeps more than 900 dogs and cats confined to barren kennels and crowded pens and sells their blood to veterinary clinics—they found that most of the animals there remain imprisoned in its miserable facilities for life. But for Jane and Vivi—two cats who were of no use to the facility—our investigator was in the right place at exactly the right time.

A TVBB manager said that she planned to leave Jane—a friendly orange tabby who, even by management’s extremely low standards, was too sick to use for blood—at “a barn out in a field” to be a “loner.” PETA’s investigator leaped at the chance to rescue the cat and took her to a veterinarian, who treated her for the infection that was causing her chronic nasal congestion and sneezing.

Being abandoned is a horrible fate for any animal, but it would be especially so for Jane, who is anything but a loner—her foster guardian describes her as a leading lady and the life of any party. She loves everyone she meets—humans, cats, and even dogs—and quickly adapts to new situations. This easygoing feline is particularly playful, bunny-kicking her catnip toys and climbing everything from cat trees to refrigerators—fun that she was denied at TVBB. And her not-so-secret weakness? Tummy scratches.

“She just stays here until she dies.” That’s what a worker at TVBB said about Vivi, a tiny brown tabby warehoused by the company even though she was too small to use for blood. She cried out in pain from an excruciating mouth infection that management had known about but failed to address for over 36 weeks. Our investigator was eventually allowed to rescue her and took her to a veterinarian, who found that her mouth was in such poor condition that all her teeth required emergency removal.

Now that Vivi isn’t in constant pain, she’s an entirely new cat, finally topping 5 pounds, and her foster mom calls her “an old soul in a very little body.” She can be downright adventurous—fitting into all sorts of odd nooks and crannies around the house—and she doesn’t let her toothlessness stop her from chowing down on her favorite crunchy treats. Once she knows someone’s a trustworthy friend, she even likes to be held like a baby and patiently watches TV during nail trims. (Her current obsession is Prison Break. She’s been trying to pitch a semi-autobiographical sixth-season revival, but no takers yet.)

Jane and Vivi would be equally happy in the same home or living apart. Vivi is a little shyer and takes some time to warm up, but show her some love and she’ll be rubbing her little face against yours in no time. And there’s one thing Jane would love in her new home for sure—some feline friends to pal around with.

Both girls are between 2 and 3 years old and have already been spayed. They will always bear reminders of the misery they endured at TVBB—including the “prison tattoos” in their ears: “VIV1” and “JAN1.” Vivi is prone to an endearing touch of drool, and Jane will need a guardian who’s able and willing to keep her sinus issues in check with regular veterinary visits and medication.

Looking to add one or both of these sweet survivors to your squad? E-mail [email protected] to learn more.