WYATT: From Canal Path Castaway to Therapy Cat Superstar

catbycatwebsite
11 minutes ago
5 min read

There are rescue stories that tug at the heart ... and then there’s Wyatt’s.

A lost cat on the Erie Canal Pathway, a foster mom with sharp ears and a soft heart, a grieving adopter seeking a new beginning, and a medical fight most cats don’t survive.

And today? He’s a certified therapy cat spreading comfort throughout Western New York. This is the story of a cat who refused to give up, and the people who refused to give up on him.

A Rescue in the Nick of Time

The Erie Canal Pathway is a familiar place for many Western New Yorkers – joggers, dog walkers, cyclists, and, occasionally, animals left behind. On one cold day, Cat by Cat foster volunteer Jamie Gebhard was returning to her car after walking her dog when something made her pause.

A single, faint meow.

“I honestly thought I imagined it,” Jamie says. “I didn’t see any cat. Then I heard it again. Softer, but desperate. That’s when I got down on my knees to look under my car.”

Underneath, pressed close for warmth, was a small black cat, skinny and alone. “He came right up to me like he’d been waiting for someone,” Jamie recalls. “I picked him up, put him in my car, and he curled up for the whole two-mile ride home.”

Jamie named him Buster and quickly saw the spark that would later steal Melanie’s heart. “He was sweet, affectionate, curious... and trouble in the funniest way. I knew he was going to make someone very, very happy.”

She contacted Cat by Cat Inc., and Buster became part of the program, giving another vulnerable stray a second chance.

Meanwhile: A Lonely Willow and an Adopter Searching for the Missing Piece

Just a few miles away, Melanie Janusz was navigating her own emotional crossroads.nShe had adopted Willow on November 9, 2024 from her friend Lori, an independent rescuer in Niagara Falls. Willow had survived harsh treatment – kept in a plastic storage tote with makeshift air holes – and Melanie was determined to give her the quiet, safe home she deserved.

But Willow was lonely.

While Melanie was away on a trip to Nashville, she checked her home camera and saw Willow wandering through the house crying.n“It broke my heart,” Melanie says. “She needed a companion, someone confident and gentle.”

Melanie contacted Cat by Cat Inc. director Sally Merritt-Braciak , her friend of 20 years and fellow cat-loving volunteer. She had hoped to adopt a black male cat available through Lock City Books, the beloved independent bookstore in Lockport that partners with Cat by Cat for adoption events and fundraisers.

But that cat had already been adopted.

“Sally told me, ‘There is another black boy in foster care. He’s incredible, and he’ll be heading to Lock City Books soon.’ That was Wyatt.”

Melanie didn’t hesitate.

On November 27, she landed at Buffalo Niagara Airport at 12:30 p.m. By 1:00 p.m., she was knocking on Jamie’s door.

Love at First Sight

The moment Melanie met Buster, whom she soon renamed Wyatt, something clicked. “He jumped on the couch, let me hold him, and I knew immediately. He was going home with me.”

After all Willow had endured, Melanie hoped the little black cat with the old soul would be exactly what her household needed.

She was right.

Destiny! This match was written in the stars.

Wyatt & Willow: BFF s

Despite a few predictable hisses at their introduction, the transition was shockingly smooth. “After six days, they were lying together on the couch,” Melanie says. “He put his paw on her like he was saying, ‘You’re safe now.’”

From there, a sibling bond was born:

They sleep next to each other every night
Wyatt plays the role of goofy little brother
Willow tolerates pouncing, neck nibbles, and general chaos… “up to a point,” Melanie laughs
They follow Melanie from room to room like a coordinated security team

Wyatt also developed several signature “Wyattisms”:

Unrolling the toilet paper as Melanie gets ready to leave
Perching on the goldfish tank, swatting gently at the bubbles
Eating the babies off the spider plant
Working out on his automatic laser-pointer toy like it's a triathlon

He was the perfect companion for Willow, and for Melanie. But then everything changed.

A Sudden Decline

In March, Melanie noticed something was wrong. Wyatt wasn’t playing with Willow. He wasn’t eating as much. His usually shiny coat looked dull.

When she returned from a trip, she saw it clearly: He had lost weight — from 9 pounds to 7 — and was lethargic. Her heart sank.

The diagnosis soon arrived: FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) — historically almost always fatal. “I was devastated,” Melanie says. “I had just lost my heart dog, Ziggy, to cancer. I adopted young cats so I could travel knowing they would be healthy. Suddenly, Wyatt was slipping away.”

Fighting for His Life

Melanie contacted Sally immediately. Sally connected her with Dr. Sue at Cheektowaga Veterinary Hospital, who arranged an emergency treatment protocol and ordered the medication. But the shipment from Texas got delayed.

“I called Sally in a panic,” Melanie remembers. “She told me to bring Wyatt to her. She gave him fluids and medication. I truly believe she saved his life.”

When the medication arrived from Texas, Melanie gave Wyatt 1ml by mouth every day for 84 days. “I wrapped him like a burrito,” she says. “At first he was too weak to fight it. Then he got smart. He’d run and hide when I opened the refrigerator, because that’s where I kept the medicine.”

She prepared the syringe quietly and waited for him to reappear. Within 48 hours, the improvement was dramatic. “He was brighter, more alert. I knew then he was going to make it.”

After 84 days of treatment and 84 days of observation, Wyatt was officially declared in remission on September 5.

Today he weighs 14.5 pounds and just had normal bloodwork. “He’s a healthy mini-panther,” Melanie beams. “And having pet insurance made a huge difference — they covered most of his care.”

Ready for his medication - 84 days of being wrapped up like a burrito!

Becoming a Therapy Cat

Before adopting Willow and Wyatt, Melanie’s dogs, Zoey and Ziggy, were therapy animals. They visited nursing homes and students at JFK High School, where Melanie works.

After losing Ziggy, the silence was overwhelming. So when Wyatt showed that same calm presence, Melanie knew he was a good candidate for therapy work. He is now certified through the SPCA Paws for Love Program, bringing comfort to teenagers who adore him.

“He’s calm, curious, and patient – perfect for therapy,” Melanie says. “The students love him.”

One moment sealed it: “After he had his yearbook picture taken (yes, the school gave him a yearbook photo) students ran up to pet him. He leaned right into them. I knew then: this was his calling.”

Melanie hopes to certify Willow next.

A Journey Marked by Love — and Second Chances

When Melanie reflects on Wyatt’s path — dumped, rescued, nearly lost, now thriving — one thing strikes her most:

“Through everything he’s endured, he’s never shown aggression. Only love.” She believes fate played a part. “I truly believe my dog Ziggy sent Wyatt to me. And Sally knew his temperament. She knew we’d be a perfect fit.”

And through Cat by Cat, Melanie didn’t just adopt a cat. “I made a wonderful friend in his foster mom, Jamie — who still tries to steal him back from me all the time,” she jokes.