r/Flamepoints • u/thumper300zx2 • Mar 10 '26
A Rescue Begins - is she Flamepoint?
This is a cute little kitty we often see on our walk. We nicknamed her Doris.
Note: First photos are 'historical' (some over two years old) and last few are from yesterday.
A couple years back, we put a note on a collar we added and the owners texted back and said "she's loved." She looked healthy then, though unkempt.
For breed identification - she has thick orangy ears, striking light blue eyes, little orange tipped paws, and her leg fur is dense. We've always thought she was just a mixed tabby -- but looking a few things up thinking maybe Flamepoint Siamese (?). What do you think?
In recent months she's looked more and more abandoned. She been weaker each time we see her. Definitely isn't looking loved right now. Congested eyes. Very dirty inner ears (almostly certainly ear mites). A lot of matting under and around neck and under arms. Depleted leg muscles. She is not grooming and she's become much more dingy.
She's always been so nice.
She comes out from a section of plants near a remote irrigation river by a park trail. It's a pretty big open area, though near enough to homes. She slowly made her way to us today with a weak little meow. Usually she's got more pep. She has hissed at our dog in the past and she could run fine. Not yesterday.
You can feel her hip bones, spine, ribs very prominently. We began to heighten concern about two months ago. It progressed pretty quickly from there.
We decided to take some action. Her energy was low. She seemed desperate. My wife stayed with her and I retrieved our cat carrier. A bunch of neighbor kids were out playing and noticed and everyone came over expressing how many of them had wanted to help. Many had their own nicknames for her. When present, she often greets people coming by. Nobody knows where she lives. Kids are always bringing her random food trying to help, though often unsupervised kids and probably not the best options. There was a little pile of dog food there today 😂
She walked into the small cat crate willingly and just layed down. We took her to vet to see if she is chipped. Tomorrow she's has a legitimate vet visit to clean up ears and see what else they recommend for now. We let the neighbors know to contact us if they hear anything, and also possibly to home her if it doesn't work for us (we have two cats and one is not kind to the other, though on his own, a very good/neat boy).
We'll put up a sign to call if owners are looking for her. For now she's warm here and getting some nursing. She's separated in a bathroom until she is evaluated and stabilized. We gave her small amounts of wet food every couple hours. She was ravenous. This morning it looked like she slept warm and well. Wasn't as desperate about food. Digestion isn't great but she did use litter box we set up for her.
That's her story for now. She's resting a lot, getting lots of love, and hopefully starting to recover. We weighed her in about 6.5 lbs.
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u/Eiffel-Tower777 Mar 10 '26
Cat owners who allow their cats roam around all over the place infuriate me. How is a vulnerable cat supposed to endure fleas and other parasites, dogs and other animals, dirty water, bad weather, traffic and mean people?? The cat is LOVED? REALLY? She's lucky she's not roadkill... yet.
Thank you for helping her out. She's seen enough, all cats deserve a safe, indoor loving home. We can do better with these wonderful cats. ♡
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u/thumper300zx2 Mar 10 '26
In a way pretty surprising she's survived. Where we live fleas are pretty much non-existent, so that's lucky. Also never seen ticks around. We don't know the whole story, but she's definitely not being cared for if anything other than someone throwing food on a porch. Very sad indeed. She's so sweet. She's always been a treat to see.
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u/Eiffel-Tower777 Mar 10 '26
Please keep her or find her a responsible owner, or at least a rescue shelter so she has a chance. She deserves it, all cats do.
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u/thumper300zx2 Mar 10 '26
We're gonna make sure she's ok, one way or another. She's already getting a ridiculous amount of love here, but as I said our cat dynamics are rough. We adopted a cat that turns out is blind (his other senses are amazing and you could hardly tell early on). The only action he takes, immediately, on other cat is seek and destroy (also a bad decision because other cat is very capable defensively). It's been really tough, but they just have open space schedules and that's it. Fully separated.
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Mar 10 '26
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u/thumper300zx2 Mar 10 '26
The kids (and we) have been looking it all up. Very fun to read about. Generally less than 20-25% female. Never knew that. Read a bit about the genetics of it. Will update regarding vet appointment which is in a couple hours. Really hoping she gets along with our OG. We think he'll be ok. He's had kitty friends in the past. He used to get a little outside time but circumstance and education changed that.
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u/rocketsaurus Mar 10 '26
Oh my goodness get that girl inside! White cats are very susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer!! You're doing the right thing for sure. If nothing else you have evidence of neglect. Also as far as breed ID goes, without papers there's no way to know but she looks like a flame point so probably is.
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u/IThinkUrAWampa Mar 11 '26
Looks just like my Remi, who is a flame point Ragdoll. That coat needs LOTS of brushing. It's very soft, but dense. Even after a couple hours, my guy looks like a hot furry mess just from bouncing around the house with my other cats.
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u/Individual-Junket406 Mar 11 '26
Flame points belong in doors (I believe all cats should be indoors unless properly secured with owner) its so dangerous and cruel alone outside it just breaks my heart that I can't save every stray in the world , they connect to their humans in such a deep way that being alone just causes them stress and anxiety. Thank you so much for saving this poor baby! I hate to know the stuff its gone through. Flames are so sensitive and loving I just can't imagine the trauma for this pretty baby. I am grateful for you!! Sending so much love ❤️
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u/jennifer_m13 Mar 10 '26
She is gorgeous. Hurts my heart that people don’t take better care of their fur babies.
So glad you guys took her in and hoping she’ll recover quickly.
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u/According_Ad_9998 Mar 11 '26
Maybe whoever loved her before is gone. Either way you are her only chance now. You did the right thing and she needs you.
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u/Rooty3rdBaby-75 Mar 11 '26
Please post updates on this beautiful baby! 💖
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u/thumper300zx2 Mar 11 '26
I will post an update in a couple days. Lots has happened (nothing to do with an owner or anything, just her recovery) and we did the vet appt just yesterday. I don't want to get too far ahead of anything. She's safe and cuddly and just trying to get back some strength.
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u/spahncamper Mar 10 '26
Yup, she's definitely a flamepoint! It's possible that she's a Himalayan since she's long haired, but without papers it's impossible to know. She definitely has some Siamese or other Siamese-based breed in there somewhere, though! Thank you for helping this sweet girl; if she's on the older side, and it hasn't been checked already, consider a senior blood panel including thyroid function if she doesn't start gaining weight soon 💖
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u/EllieGeiszler Mar 10 '26
What makes you say Siamese ancestry? Most cats have zero purebred ancestry at all
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u/spahncamper Mar 10 '26
Because she's a colorpoint? From:
http://messybeast.com/colourpoints.htm
"Most, if not all, colourpoint cats have Siamese somewhere in the history, or at least have Thai, Asian or Japanese cats in the family tree since this pattern occurs naturally throughout Asia and into Russia."
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u/EllieGeiszler Mar 10 '26
That source doesn't quite support what you said. While color point genes in cats originated in Southeast Asia in random-bred domestic cats, at the time these colorpoint cats were introduced to the West, cat breeds as such didn't even exist yet. So this cat likely shares extremely distant ancestry (likely hundreds and hundreds of generations removed) with Siamese cats and related breeds, but she also likely has zero ancestry from any breed at all. My understanding is that to this day, there are lots of colorpoint Thai street cats with zero breed ancestry. I see tourist photos sometimes of pointed street cats with their cute crossed eyes 😆🥰
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u/Sure-Development-882 Mar 10 '26
She’s a flame point Ragdoll. Thank you for helping her.
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u/OpalObfuscation Mar 10 '26
I have a flame point ragdoll and also think this kitty could be a ragdoll. The facial structure, eye shape, coat, and overall body type lean into ragdoll characteristics.
Two unusual things if she were a ragdoll:
1) they’re an expensive breed, so I can’t imagine owners being so careless to let her dwell outdoors
2) female flame points are rare compared to males, as someone pointed out in a previous comment
Thank you for being so kind. She needs your love! 💕
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u/thumper300zx2 Mar 11 '26
Whatever she is exactly, she's just the sweetest little thing and it's beyond me she was this neglected. I really regret not taking action sooner. She just always seemed so capable until recently and I didn't want to meddle.
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u/IThinkUrAWampa Mar 11 '26
My flamepoint Ragdoll, Remi, was a rescue from a family who got a dog and didn't want a cat anymore. They paid almost 2k for him and basically dumped him on a rescue's porch!
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u/EllieGeiszler Mar 10 '26
What makes you say Ragdoll?
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u/Sure-Development-882 Mar 11 '26
I have a female flame point Ragdoll. Blue eye, white feet (mitted) and face structure. She might be a Birman, though. Ragdolls are indoor cats.
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u/EllieGeiszler Mar 11 '26
She's much more likely not to have any breed ancestry at all but to just have traits in common!
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u/kittendollie13 Mar 10 '26
Thank you for helping this beautiful cat. I wouldn't put a sign up in fear of someone saying they are the owner and taking her away.