Faces of No-Kill: Cat sails through life after surgery

Ahoy there! Gather round to hear the tale of Sunny the Swashbuckler. Sure, she’s only got one eye, but that doesn’t stop her from hunting treasure (mostly bouncy balls and feathers) and embarking on epic adventures (around the house). Sunny doesn’t let anything get in her way, and that fearless spirit helped her through big challenges when she was just a tiny kitten.

Sunny’s story began when staff at a Utah animal shelter discovered a large pet carrier left outside the building. Inside was a crew of 17 cats and kittens — all battling severe upper respiratory infections.

Knowing the kitties needed urgent care, the shelter worked with Best Friends to bring them to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City. Once at the clinic, the vet team discovered that many of them, including Sunny, had eye damage from the illness. Sunny’s right eye was clouded over and infected, so vets determined the best option would be to remove it. But at that point, she was just too small for surgery.

[Faces of No-Kill: Injury won’t keep playful kitten down]

So off she went to a foster home, where she could bulk up alongside some of her littermateys. Despite their rough start, the kittens were curious and playful as could be. However, the foster volunteer soon noticed that Sunny seemed to have trouble breathing. A trip to a veterinary specialist and x-rays revealed that her chest was sunken in, likely a congenital condition.

Once she was strong enough, Sunny underwent two surgeries at once: one to remove her eye and one to fix her chest. She came through with flying colors. Afterward, she had to wear a tiny vest to protect her stitches (though it was decorated with hearts and butterflies instead of a skull and crossbones). When her stitches came out, this stinky pirate needed a bath. Turns out, Sunny’s more of a land lover, but she still faced the sink with bravery.

After she fully healed, it was time for Sunny to ship out of foster care and into an adoptive home. Today, she lives with her person and a fellow orange tabby named Howdy, who was also adopted from Best Friends. Sunny is Howdy’s mini-me and best mate, and the old salt has been busy teaching this little scallywag the ropes.

[Faces of No-Kill: Tiny kitten’s journey to health]

Whether she’s plundering through a box of packing peanuts or waiting in the galley for breakfast to be served, Sunny proves that even the smallest sailor can weather big storms.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.