One of my friends came across what was left of this small, elderly lady on the sidewalk near her home in El Sobrante.  She picked her up and called me.  When she brought her to us, she weighed next to nothing, and had virtually no fur left...bless her.  After she had eaten a good warm meal, I sat with her on the couch and talked with her.  I told her that she was safe now, and loved, and would have the care she needed. For some reason, I started telling her about Sanibel Island in Florida, how warm and lovely it was, and from there decided to call her Sanibel.  So that she would always feel warm and sunny.  She was obviously an old cat, and her legs were stiff.  She walked around  the house and yard with a deliberate, determined gait, and we got her a little sweater to wear (first ever for a cat here), so that she could save calories and be warm while her fur grew back.  She ate very frequently, in small amounts, seeming to know just what she needed in order to regain her health.  We loved her, and were overjoyed to watch her recovery. , 

This was actually after her fur had started growing back!

She only looked like this for a very short while!

Sanibel regained her health, and enjoyed two happy years with us.  She must have been Very old, as she had those old-lady ways.  Eventually she slowed down, and very gradually, with no pain or sickness, faded away.  We are grateful to Sanibel for the gifts she brought us, her tough demonstration of a survivor's nature, and her love.

Of course she loved sitting in the sun!

Looking GOOD!!

Part of the cat pile now!