Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
The one-year-old grey cat lost three kittens before finding East Northport's Grateful Paw Cat Shelter. HUNTINGTON, NY — With her silvery coat and golden eyes, Duchess carries herself with the quiet grace of royalty — but behind her calm exterior lies a story of resilience and renewal. Duchess, a beautiful grey cat barely a year old, was rescued in Uniondale under heartbreaking circumstances. A young mother herself, she had given birth to four kittens, but only one — a tiny boy named Duke—survived. “She lost the other three, unfortunately,” said Debbi Larkin, president of the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter in East Northport. “We got her and the last baby through one of our longtime rescue partners, John DeBacker. He works with us often — hundreds of rescues — and he reached out after finding her and her last kitten.” Duchess arrived at the shelter on Oct. 1. Upon intake, staff discovered that she had already been spayed, but she still needed her vaccines. She and her kitten were placed in foster care, giving the young mother time to rest and recover. “Her little baby is still in foster and will be coming to us next week,” Larkin said. “We keep kittens in foster care until they’re three months old, fully vaccinated, and ready for adoption.” Once Duchess regained her strength, she joined the shelter’s free-roaming cat room — a space designed to help animals adjust to social life in a calm, open environment. “Our shelter is free-roaming,” Larkin said. “The only time an animal is in a cage is when they’re in quarantine or not feeling well. Most of our cats adjust really well.” Some cats, like Duchess, take a little longer to open up. “She’s shy by nature, but when you approach her gently, she leans into your hand and starts purring,” Larkin said. “She loves head scratches, especially behind the ears, and butt scratches. Once she trusts you, she shows her sweet personality.” To help cats like Duchess gain confidence, Grateful Paw relies on a team of “socializers” — volunteers who spend extra time helping timid cats relax and learn to enjoy human interaction. Although Duchess has made progress in her purple room shared with a dozen other cats, Larkin said she believes this young mom would truly blossom as an only pet. “I think she’d do best in a calm home by herself where she can relax, feel safe, and get all the attention she deserves,” Larkin said. Duchess has tested negative for FELV and FIV, received all of her vaccines, tested negative for parasites, and is spayed and litter box trained. Her favorite pastime is basking in a warm patch of sunlight, eyes half-closed, finally allowing herself to relax. “After everything she’s been through, she still has such a gentle heart,” Larkin said. “With the right person, she’ll blossom into the affectionate, trusting cat she was always meant to be.” For now, she can often be found lounging, waiting for her forever castle. 📍 Location: Grateful Paw Cat Shelter, 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport 🕐 Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 12–4 p.m.; Thursday nights 7–9 p.m. (by appointment) 📞 Contact: 631-757-4517 | cats@laphuntington.org 🐾 Facebook: League for Animal Protection of Huntington
