Everybody loves Ramen

One day in February, Mieke brought a vulnerable, ginger tabby named Ramen to our doors at CSU Spur. Ramen – a 7-year-old stray cat, who for years had endeared himself to Mieke’s crew of caring neighbors – was suffering from severe dental disease and a painful skin infection. Over time, each neighbor had bonded with Ramen, offering him affection, shelter, and a dependable meal whenever he dropped by to say hello. When Mieke and her husband moved to the neighborhood near the end of 2022, they, too, took a shine to this friendly outdoor cat in their new neighborhood.

By the time Mieke first met Ramen, he was already in very bad shape. Remarkably, her neighbors were in the process of pooling their resources to find him treatment – a collective effort that Mieke and her husband wholeheartedly supported. Before moving to Denver, Mieke volunteered at an animal shelter in Texas, where she took a particular interest in cats and their care. Ramen’s group of caregivers visited several local veterinarians but felt discouraged when they were unable to afford the recommended dental surgery and other treatment he needed to recover. That’s when they heard about Humane Colorado’s services at our Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur. “I cried with relief at that first appointment at Humane Colorado,” remembers Mieke. “It was the first time I felt that Ramen – and us as his family – were being truly seen and cared for.”

At CSU Spur, Ramen’s donor-subsidized treatment included a major dental procedure to extract all of his teeth, a neuter procedure, a long-awaited skin allergy diagnosis, and vaccinations to further improve his health and well-being. Each of these healing measures was made possible by a community that deeply cares for Ramen – including all of us at Humane Colorado.

Everybody who meets Ramen loves him – especially Mieke and her husband. In fact, Ramen now officially resides in their home, enjoying the warmth and comfort of knowing where his next nibble and snuggle will come from. However, he still gets to roam the great outdoors and visit members of his extended family. “Ramen is no longer surviving each day,” Mieke said. “He’s thriving.