When he was relinquished as a stray to Los Angeles County’s Baldwin Park Animal Care Center in late January, Stewey, a 2-year-old male cat, was severely injured.

“He had a degloving injury that pulled the skin off of his left front limb and had to have his leg amputated as a result,” says Dr. Bridgid Twomey, Veterinary Program Manager for the ASPCA in Los Angeles.

Dr. Twomey, who provided post-operative care for Stewey after his surgery at Baldwin Park, then took him home to foster him through his recovery.

“I thought, ‘Why not fill the void?’” says Dr. Twomey, who has two cats of her own. “My cats were spending time at my parents’ house, so I brought Stewey home with me. He was so sweet and food-motivated, and at some point, he realized he could get love, too. He’s a full ham.”

Stewey gobbles a mouthwatering treat from Bethany Cox, ASPCA Foster Care Coordinator in Los Angeles.

We have had operations in Los Angeles for 10 years, and our partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control — one of the largest municipal sheltering systems in the country — has resulted in thousands of kittens saved since 2017 — 12,000 to be exact.

During the winter season in Los Angeles — when there is less of an influx of kittens — we will also pull adult cats out of crowded county shelters if foster homes are available.

“Stewey’s injury was treatable, and he was otherwise healthy and overtly friendly,” says Hella Tyler, ASPCA Senior Manager of Foster Care. “Overall, his amputation was a minor issue that did not impact his quality of life.”

Stewey learned to walk on his remaining three legs, following Dr. Twomey around her house.

“He loved the same spots my cats love, like the couch and a velvet blanket,” she says.

While Dr. Twomey had never fostered an unneutered adult male, she says she won’t ever forget him.

“Before he was neutered, he had a very specific musk I wasn’t accustomed to,” she says.

Following his recovery, Stewey was neutered at the ASPCA Spay Neuter Clinic. On March 8, he was transported to the Santa Barbara Humane Society. Exactly one week later, he was adopted.

Stewey’s adopter, Nicole, renamed him Skipper. Nicole echoes Dr. Twomey’s experiences of having Skipper follow her around the house.

“I’m so happy to have him as a little sidekick,” Nicole says. “He has so much personality, with his spunky, sassy moments as well as his cuddly ones. He is spoiled and loved.”

For Dr. Twomey, knowing her former foster now has a home of his own is satisfying.

“There is such a need for fosters and homes for cats with relatively minor issues like Stewey’s,” she says. “It was nice to be able to help a cat like this.”