Against the current: Marlin, Halibut, and Trout

Trout, Marlin, and Halibut. Photo by David Yeung.

In April of 2024, a litter of fish arrived to Cat Town. Polydactyls Marlin, Halibut, and Trout came in from a home with too many animals and struggling with a host of health issues. Once at the Adoption Center, the staff and volunteers began giving these boys the TLC they needed to heal and eventually find their new homes.

The trio had a tough road ahead. Along with treatable giardia and upper respiratory infections, all three cats tested positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Unlike human leukemia, feline leukemia is a retrovirus that can lead to cancer and other serious complications, resulting in a median life expectancy of 2.5 years (Source: Cornell). FeLV can insert itself into a cat’s DNA and become a lifelong condition that weakens the immune system. We ran a PCR test to confirm the diagnosis, understand the severity, and ensure we were following the right care plan. The results showed they all had progressive infections. Since the diagnosis meant they’d have shorter lifespans, we considered the three to be hospice cases and placed them in Cat Town’s In It for Life program. But when their foster guardian noticed the boys had developed digestive issues, we moved them to a Cat Town studio to closely monitor their health. 

Every guest who visited Marlin fell in love with him. Photo by David Yeung.

After finding the right diet, Marlin, Halibut, and Trout healed at Cat Town, and became favorites among guests, volunteers, and staff alike. Halibut and Trout, the all-white twins, were a little shy with people and preferred to snuggle together, but had boundless energy once toys came out. Marlin, their confident orange older brother, would meow squeakily to any potential best friend he saw, trying to convince passers-by with his sad eyes that no one had ever loved him. Then, he’d immediately climb onto the lap or shoulder of anyone who took the bait. Once his human company left and his spotlight faded, he’d find his younger brothers and plop on top of their cuddle pile as a reminder that he loved them too. 

Despite their popularity among visitors, the combined challenge of the FeLV diagnosis and a special diet proved a barrier to potential adopters. Over a year-long stay in our care, the three received hundreds of happy visitors but no adoption inquiries.

The trio always found safety and love with each other.

In February 2025, a routine vet check brought bittersweet news: Halibut had cleared the virus entirely — he was healthy, and at no risk to other cats. Marlin’s results showed a regressive infection, unlikely to cause illness, but still at risk of spreading the virus, or reactivating it from another cat with FeLV. Trout was diagnosed with a progressive infection — active, contagious, and likely to lead to health complications and a shorter life. Cat Town made the difficult decision to place them in separate homes while we confirmed these new diagnoses, and all three were monitored closely to make sure they adapted well to the change.

Surprisingly, shy Trout became a social, cuddly, and affectionate companion, quickly seeking attention from humans to fill the void his brothers previously filled. Marlin struggled without the comfort of his brothers, but luckily, his next blood test showed that our little orange man had aborted his virus, allowing him to reunite with Halibut! The two returned to Cat Town together as a healthy bonded pair.

Trout easily found joy in his new home.

Marlin and Trout feel cozy and safe with their new family.

Finally, their journey with Cat Town reached a joyful ending. After a year of ups and downs, Marlin, Halibut, and Trout found their new homes. Trout’s foster adopted the affectionate boy to join the foster-to-family club, and sweet and virus-free Marlin and Halibut were quickly scooped up by adoring adopters. 

All three were adopted on the same day.

Journeys like Marlin, Halibut, and Trout’s are what make Cat Town special. Their success story reminds us of what it takes to invest in cats with complex needs — and how deeply rewarding it is when that care and time pays off. We miss this spunky, loving, polydactyl trio — but more than anything, we’re proud of their resilience, grateful for the people who cheered them on, and overjoyed to see them with families who will give them the care they deserve.