When a fire broke out at Marck Industries in Rogers in October 2024, it sent a large plume of smoke across the region and left an injured cat stranded in a nearby neighborhood.
Mew Cat Rescue quickly responded after a photo of the cat circulated on social media. The feline, later named Smokey, was rushed to the emergency room with severe burns. Once he stabilized, Tiffany Griggs, a foster volunteer, stepped in to help him recover.
“When I picked him up, he was emaciated,” Griggs recalled. “He was full of fleas and had much more going on than just the burns. I believe he might have been sick or had other issues, which is probably why he got trapped and burned in the fire.”
After months of recovery, Smokey’s condition improved significantly.
“He had an anal prolapse and severe burns on all four feet. The burns on his front feet and pads were so bad they reached the first joint on most of his paws, and his pads were almost completely gone,” Griggs said. “He spent a lot of time in an incubator, only coming out twice a day for foot treatments and to have cream applied. He lived in there for about two weeks and mostly slept, sedated by pain medicine.”
Griggs was committed to helping Smokey, but she initially never intended to adopt him.
“I’m passionate about rescuing cats. There’s such a huge need in Northwest Arkansas, and not enough foster homes,” she said. “I told myself I wasn’t keeping him—I already had 12 cats. Smokey was just a foster.”
However, as time went on, Griggs realized Smokey was the perfect fit for her.
“I was sitting on the sofa with him, and he was lying in my arms like a baby, looking up at me. I took a selfie, and everyone said, ‘That’s your cat,'” she said. “He bonded so much with me that I couldn’t imagine letting him go to another family.”
After four months of healing, Smokey is now fully recovered and enjoying his forever home.
“He zooms around the house, plays with the other cats, and can jump onto the cat shelves. You wouldn’t even know he’d been burned or that he’s missing toes. He’s an amazing cat,” Griggs said.
Reflecting on the response to Smokey’s story on social media, Griggs emphasized the importance of fostering, especially for cats in need of special care.
“It means a lot because I hope it encourages others to get involved,” Griggs said. “There’s such a need for fosters, and it’s possible to save these cats. It shows you a new side of them, and how truly incredible they are.”
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