After Being Pushed from a Window, Coral Finds a Soft Place to Land

Abby Coleman, Director of Staff at the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center, was in a meeting when one of our veterinarians, Dr. Armato, turned to her and asked if she was interested in adopting a cat.

Dr. Armato knew that Abby’s cat Jay-Z had recently passed away, and that Abby and her dog (a former Animal Recovery Center resident named Disco) had been grieving that loss. Knowing that the two would be interested in having a feline friend again, Dr. Armato suggested meeting a cat named Coral. 

In June 2025, Coral was brought to a local veterinary hospital by a Good Samaritan who stated that she found Coral after she’d been pushed out of a window four or five stories high. Coral sustained a severe arm break and a broken tooth as a result and would need expert care and extended recovery time. Once stable, she was transferred to the Animal Recovery Center to receive continued care.

When Coral arrived at our facility, our veterinary staff triaged and assessed her to determine if they could save her broken limb and if it would heal appropriately. Ultimately, they decided the best option for her prognosis was to amputate.

With this upcoming surgery in mind and knowing that many animals recover best in a comfortable home without the stress of being in a shelter, Dr. Armato introduced Abby to Coral in hopes she might be willing to foster and eventually adopt her.

“Dr. Armato had already fallen in love with all of her quirks and really wanted to find her a good match,” Abby recalled. “After that meeting, we went down to the kennel that Coral was staying in.”

As Abby walked up to the kennel, she saw a broken cat with a kind, affectionate nature.

“Even though she had a very severe arm break, she was still super eager to be around people and be affectionate,” remembered Abby. “I felt an immediate connection with Coral, So when the opportunity to foster her arose, I was definitely up for it and excited to see if Disco was as well.”

Road to Recovery

On June 13, Coral had her surgery. For the next few days, she remained in the shelter and went through extensive physical therapy and strict cage rest. By June 19, she was ready to go to her new foster home with Abby.

For the first week or so in Abby’s care, Coral was separated from Disco so she could get used to being in a new home while healing from surgery.

“She was on a pain management medication and had an e-collar or cone, but other than that it was a pretty straightforward recovery,” Abby told us. “I had to make sure she didn’t jump around too much, which at first, was challenging because even though she just had an amputation she still had a lot of energy and was eager to move around. She was a bit more tentative at first but quickly gained confidence and is now just as confident as any other cat.”

Once Coral was feeling more like herself, Abby facilitated a meeting between her and Disco, and the two quickly took to each other. When Disco was first adopted, Abby had two cats, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have sadly passed since. But thanks to them, when it came to Disco meeting another cat, it was old hat by then.

It didn’t take long for Coral to feel like a member of the family, so once she was officially available for adoption in mid-July, Abby quickly filled out the paperwork to make her stay permanent.

With her new life came a new(ish) name and Coral became Coral Gloria, in honor of one of Abby’s grandmother figures.

“Her name was Gloria Gray, she went by GG and sometimes I call Coral Gloria, CG,” said Abby. “Coral also reminds me a lot of GG just in that, usually when I come home from work, she immediately leans in for a hello. GG embodied that ever-welcoming spirit too. Even though it’s a little bit clunky, I really love it and think it rolls off the tongue in a funky way.”

Dog-Like Tendencies

Since her adoption became official and she’s had time to settle in, Coral has let her true personality shine.

“I think the further away she’s gotten from her amputation, and the more physically well she’s been feeling, her personality has really come out in many ways,” explained Abby. “She’s really vocal and isn’t afraid to let you know what she wants. She’s also really affectionate.”

Now that she’s used to walking on just three legs, Coral has been testing the waters on how far she can jump or climb. Most of her climbing toys are above Abby’s bed, so if she falls, she has somewhere soft to land.

“That’s been a new experience for me too, just being mindful of what her needs are because of the amputation,” said Abby.

To add to Coral’s quirky nature, living with a dog has led her to have some classic dog traits, like the way she loves to play fetch and steal Disco’s squeaky balls and run away with them.

“I feel like Disco had been raised by cats and now Coral is being raised by him,” explained Abby. “They have this really lovely combination of typical cat and dog traits. The next level that I’m hoping to get to is — if it’s safe — get her a harness to take her outside. She seems really eager to go outside. Every time I harness up Disco she’ll jump right on top of the harness. It feels like she really wants to go with us.”

When they’re not playing, Coral is usually “cuddle bombing” Disco and even grooming him — something that took a little getting used to on Disco’s end. They also love to sleep adjacent to one another and touch paws.

“I think the only thing they don’t agree on is that Disco likes to sleep in and Coral Gloria likes to wake up early,” joked Abby.

How Fostering Saves Lives

Abby has been with the ASPCA since 2019, and during her time, she has seen firsthand how impactful fostering is to shelter animals, especially those who come from cruelty cases.

Most animals like Coral at the Animal Recovery Center are part of NYPD cases and many are considered evidence in their trials. For that reason, they often spend months in our care before we are granted custody and are able to find them the safe and loving homes they deserve.

“Fosters are so important and vital to the recovery process for these animals,” said Abby. “Sometimes a court date will be set, and it will be rescheduled for months later, so having a foster home for those animals is really vital for their ability to thrive throughout this unknown timeline. We do everything we can on our end, but the court system’s timeline is out of our hands. If an animal is in our care for months or even a year, spending the majority of that time in a foster home can really save their life.”

“The longer animals are in the shelter, the more at risk they are for their mental health to deteriorate. We do everything we possibly can to provide the animals in our care with enrichment, food, water, love, and absolutely everything they need, but it’s inherently very stressful to be in a shelter. So the more time they can spend outside in a home environment, even a temporary home, is really tremendous for their well-being and recovery.”

For those considering fostering an animal, Abby offers some advice:

“Be patient,” she suggested. “It can definitely feel like you immediately want everything to work out and the animals to be settled in, but it really does take time for the animals to settle in. The more effort you put into whatever they need, the better off they’ll be and the more bonded you’ll be with them. Try to listen to what they need and be creative with the solutions.”

It’s not just the foster animal’s life who will change, by connecting with an animal, yours might too!

“Coral and Disco have changed my life for the better,” said Abby. “I was really sad after losing Jay-Z and Beyoncé, but Coral and Disco’s special bond helped me remember the joy in life and the joy in bonds with animals. It’s really sad when you lose an animal, but to remember there’s always another animal that needs you is a helpful way to move forward, so I feel really lucky that Disco and Coral Gloria are in my life. They bring me so much happiness and I love them so much. They remind me not to take things too seriously and remember to always have fun.

“As sad as it was what both Coral and Disco went through, I feel very lucky that they get along so well and I happened to be in the right place at the right time to meet them.”

This Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, we’re aiming to help over 300 cats and kittens find the loving homes they deserve! You can help us make a lifesaving difference for more cats like Coral by getting involved this summer through adoption, fostering or by just spreading the word on your social media channels. Find out more at aspca.org/meow!