My story

　　Garbanzo is a goofy, playful, and independent kitten always looking to get into trouble! He adores being the center of attention at all times and loves to make his people smile, but prefers to keep his feet on the ground. Typically, Garbanzo is on the move but can occasionally be found snuggled up with one of the adult cats in the home, laying in the sunshine, or curled up with an animated fish toy. His favorite toys include balls he can chase around the house, mouse toys, cat dancers, and laser pointers. His depth perception and pouncing skills are a little lacking at times but he tries his hardest! Garbanzo has been exposed to adult cats, kittens younger than him, small, medium, and large dogs, as well as men and women. He is always politely asking for his meals and loves to snuggle in bed at night.

　　Garbanzo will need a very special home due to a suspected congenital defect called megaesophagus. This condition prevents Garbanzo from swallowing solid or thicker foods such as kibble and treats. When Garbanzo is given these types of food, he regurgitates. Even though he loves all food, he is only able to successfully eat pate style wet food that has had water mixed into it. He will likely need to continue on this diet likely lifelong and will need his adopters to keep an eye out for additional potential complications of megaesophagus. One of the most common concerns is aspiration pneumonia. This occurs when an animal inhales materials such as food or vomit and can often happen after regurgitation. It will be important for his family to watch for signs of respiratory illness and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Since Garbanzo will also not have the opportunity to eat crunchy kibble, his dental health will need to be monitored. Dental water additives and brushing his teeth often would be a very good option to help keep his teeth clean but he may need dental cleaning by a veterinarian more regularly.

　　Garbanzo has also struggled with some intense food seeking behaviors. His home will need to be accommodating to keep him away from things he might ingest that could be harmful to him, including human food in cabinets and small items on the ground. This stems from his condition and is another factor that makes his eating routine so important. Animal Friends Alliance will provide further counseling and history on this to any potential adopters.

　　If you have any questions or would like to adopt Garbanzo, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.