Meet Zipper, The Resilient Rescue From A Hempstead Parking Garage: Huntington Adoptable Pet Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Some cats arrive quietly. Some arrive with a story.

And then there is Zipper.

The young male cat — affectionately called “Zippy” by volunteers — is the newest arrival and Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's adoptable pet of the week. Zipper's journey to safety began in a place no cat should have to call home: a parking garage in Hempstead.

Zipper is a striking tiger-and-white cat with unusual markings and “the most beautiful eyes — the color of green sea glass that seems to hold a thousand stories,” shelter volunteers said.

No one knows how long he had been living in the garage or where he had been hiding. His scruffy coat suggested he had been struggling for quite some time, and he carried a painful mystery with him — a serious wound on his neck.

“What we do know is that Zipper was hungry… very hungry,” the shelter said.

The garage manager noticed him wandering through the structure and knew he needed help. Instead of hiding from people, Zipper approached them, looking for attention and hoping someone might share food.

Concerned for his safety, the manager contacted a local rescuer. When a carrier was placed on the ground, Zipper did something remarkable.

“As if he somehow knew this was his chance, he simply walked right in,” the shelter said.

From there, Zipper was taken to a municipal shelter before Grateful Paw stepped in to bring him into its care.

Veterinarians estimate Zipper is between one and two years old. During his neuter surgery, the wound on his neck was carefully examined. It may have been caused by a bite from another animal — possibly a cat or dog — or perhaps an injury from a vehicle while he was surviving outdoors.

Because the wound had been left to heal on its own, it caused some dermatitis, scarring, and patches of alopecia. While the area can still appear red or irritated at times, the shelter says Zipper does not seem overly bothered by it except for the occasional itch.

He has received antibiotics and cortisone to help the healing process, and veterinarians are optimistic that the injury will continue to improve.

Despite everything he has endured, Zipper has shown himself to be a gentle and social cat.

When he first entered the shelter’s cat room, he attempted to introduce himself to the other cats. The residents were not quite ready to welcome him.

“Between the unfamiliar smells of the animal hospital and the lingering scent of an unneutered male, the room erupted in hisses and growls,” the shelter said.

Zipper appeared confused by the reaction, volunteers said, “as if wondering what he had done wrong.” To his credit, he backed away and gave the other cats space.

Now the room has settled into a calmer truce.

Zipper has also discovered his favorite place in the shelter — the top of the cat condos, where he can watch birds and squirrels outside the windows and observe people passing by.

“It makes you wonder if this is something he used to do during his days surviving around that parking garage,” the shelter said.

He has not quite figured out toys yet, but volunteers are confident that with time and patience he will learn to enjoy them.

One thing Zipper has already mastered, however, is eating.

“He has quite the appetite,” the shelter said, noting he can sometimes be found “standing directly on the community wet food plate while simultaneously trying to reach the dry food bowls.”

Volunteers say he is clearly making up for lost meals from his past.

Zipper loves being pet and scratched, and gentle affection seems to make him very happy. However, he is not yet comfortable being picked up.

“For now, Zipper sets the rules, and we respect that,” the shelter said.

He has only been at the shelter for about a week and is still settling in, but volunteers are confident that with time he will continue to relax, make friends and show everyone the wonderful cat they already know he is.

Medically, Zipper is fully vetted. He has tested negative for FeLV and FIV, is parasite-free, vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and already litter-box trained.

His first two years of life remain a mystery.

“But we can only imagine the challenges he faced while trying to survive on his own,” the shelter said. “Now it’s time for a new chapter.”

Zipper can currently be found in the shelter’s Purple Room.

He received his name because the parking garage manager saw him “zipping around the garage, weaving in and out of cars and trucks and racing up and down the ramps.”

Now volunteers hope he will “zip right into someone’s heart — and straight into a loving forever home.”

Those interested in meeting Zipper can call the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org
, visit the shelter’s Facebook page, or stop by the shelter at 3 Verleye Ave. in East Northport.

The shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with additional Thursday evening hours from 7 to 9 p.m. by appointment.