They took in kittens who had trouble walking and turned them into little climbing cats in just a few days.
Earlier this week, Jamie, a foster volunteer for Baby Kitten Rescue, was informed about two kittens who had been rescued from an uncertain fate.
They were being “given away” along with their siblings when a local animal rescuer, Claudia, stumbled upon them and offered to help. She took them into her care and noticed one had a head tilt while the other walked with his hind legs splayed to the sides.
She wanted the two with extra needs to go to someone with more experience. “So she reached out to me. I couldn’t say no,” Jamie shared.
The kittens quickly settled into their new space, trying to explore despite their abnormalities. Cocoa, the tabby, didn’t let her head tilt stop her, and her brother, Butternut, scooted around, inspecting every nook and cranny.
At five weeks old, they were both underweight, but after just one day of good food, rest, and TLC, they had already begun to put on weight.
“Even though both Butternut and Cocoa are special needs, they do everything a normal kitten does.”
They quickly mastered the art of the litter box and dove into their food dish with gusto. With renewed strength and a spring in their step, they started venturing more, letting nothing hold them back.
To improve Butternut’s mobility, he’s been receiving physical therapy and taping, which are helping to bring his hind legs into the correct position and keeping his feet under his hips when he sits, walks, and climbs.
He takes everything in stride, staying active and unfazed whether or not he wears the tape.
Within 24 hours of being in foster care, Cocoa surprised everyone when her head tilt disappeared. As she found her balance, a spark of curiosity lit up her eyes, and her mischievous side came to life.
She used her tiny claws to scale Jamie’s legs, trying to crawl onto her lap. “Cocoa has an abundance of energy while awake.”
After visiting the vet, they believed her head tilt had somehow resolved on its own.
Whenever Jamie steps into the room, Cocoa and her brother rush over, eager for attention. As soon as she sits down, they turn into little monkeys, climbing all over her until they settle down for a nap in her lap.
In just a few days, Butternut has made great progress. He is learning to walk and play with his feet under his hips and to jump by launching himself with his back legs.
“We want him to build strength in his hind legs while they are in the correct position. He’s getting better and better at walking and climbing. He makes the cutest little trills when he plays.”
While Butternut romps around, honing his skills, Cocoa watches from the comfort of Jamie’s lap. She’s fearless and thinks she’s twice her size.
The moment her brother clambers up to join her, she wrestles him with all her might, then reaches for his tail, determined to catch it.
“They are officially in the climbing stage of their development.”
With a loving home, good food, and attentive care, the feline siblings are flourishing into boisterous cats. They fill their days with a whirlwind of activity, eventually dozing off on their foster mom.
Just a few days ago, their future was uncertain. Now, they have a caring foster family to meet their needs and a supportive team to ensure a bright future for them.
