I started watching the Tiny Kittens 24-hour kitten-cam just before Dorothy gave birth to “The Kittens of Oz”. I learned more about TNR and the efforts of Shelly from Tiny Kittens and the “People for Happier Cats” organization near Langley BC Canada. Later I started watching the kitten cam of a shelter/rescue organization they’re associated with, Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), and their “angel” veterinarians at Mountain View Animal Hospital.
 |
| Shelly Roche of Tiny Kittens and Dr. Ferguson of Mountain View Veterinary Hospital Receive a Card and Cupcakes with a Donation from Pepino and The Pride Cubs |
 |
| Linda and Amy of Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) Receive a Card and Cupcakes with a Donation from Pepino and The Pride Cubs |
One day, LAPS rescued 6 new born barn kittens whose mother
abandoned them because she was still caring for an older litter. Within hours, they rescued a pregnant cat
that promptly gave birth to four kittens. The new mother eagerly accepted the 6
orphaned kittens and began nursing them along with her own. Some of the LAPS volunteers were reading the
F. Scott Fitzgerald classic “The Great Gatsby” so they named the new family
“The Great Catsby Litter”. The mother cat became “Zelda”, named after
Fitzgerald’s wife and the kittens were named Jay Catsby, Fay, Lindy Hop, Jazz,
Cody, Lucille, Pammy, Fitzie, Pearls, and Daisy Buchanan (Daisy B. for short).
 |
| Super Volunteer Suzanne Hargin Visiting The Great Catsby Litter on the LAPS Live 24 Hour Kitten Cam |
As the kittens grew, the viewers that participate in the
live chat fantasied about adopting their favorite kitten(s) and the mother. We posted
screen captures of the little family on Facebook daily and eagerly helped new
chatters become familiar with the story and how to identify the kittens by
name. Through all this, I became enamored with the little bob-tailed tabby,
Jazz, so much so that I seriously considered putting in an application for him
and one of the others. I have a friend in the Seattle area that was willing to
let me use his place as a “base of operations” should I become a finalist to
adopt Jazz.
 |
|
Little Jazz Showing Off
His Bobtail
|
As applications came in for all the kittens and their
mother, it became clear that little Jazz would find a great home and subjecting
him to the long flight with connections to Connecticut was not in his best
interest. I gave up the dream to adopt Jazz. My chat friends encouraged me to
adopt locally which I already do, having adopted four older cats from the local
rescue organization’s shelter I volunteer at (Animal Friends Of Connecticut or
AFOC).
The veterinarians and technicians worked around the clock to save the kitten’s life. The kitten was having difficulty breathing and required oxygen. I posted encouragement on the kitten’s updates imploring him to continue to fight to live. As the kitten began to make small steps I started posting my interest in giving him a forever home. For many weeks they were not sure if the kitten would survive so they didn’t name him, instead just calling him “Mousey” since he resembled a little grey mouse.
 |
| Baby Pepino Clinging to Life |
I
posted pictures of “Mousey” and his progress for my kitten-cam chat friends on
various Facebook groups. My chat friends would ask for updates as soon as I
logged into chat. The chat sometimes turns into fantasy and in this case, my
friends such as “Annie & Zorro”, “teadust”, and “Marty” joked about
“rescuing” the kitten from his veterinary “captors” by creating a diversion at
the front desk as I snuck into the back, secured the kitten in my motorcycle
jacket, then escaping with him on my Ducati Superbike.
 |
| Baby Pepino Being Too Cute |
In real life, I took a
much more direct approach, discussing my desire to adopt Mousey with my
long-time veterinarian, Dr. Hurley. He knows me very well as I’ve brought my pets there
for many years and, at a minimum, they have annual checkups. Currently, this
includes four AFOC cats that were “long term inmates” at the AFOC shelter
before I adopted them. I am fortunate that I have a large enough house for them
and can financially care for them.
 |
| The Pride Cubs (Tasha passed away since) |
As the holidays approached, my veterinarian’s office
organized a food drive for a local shelter and I brought multiple bags of food
to donate at a time I was sure they wouldn’t be busy. I donated the food then
asked if I could see the little “Mousey” kitten. One of his foster mothers,
Ashley, brought him out for me. He was still drying off from a bath and I was
very surprised at how small he was. He looked at me with an unsure curiosity
and then I saw he had a “bobtail” just like little Jazz. I gasped and took some
pictures with my phone. , I posted pictures of the visit and as soon as I
logged into chat I pointed out Mousey’s bobtail, and declared “it’s a sign”. My
chat friends said “it was meant to be”.
 |
| The First Time Pepino and I Saw Each Other |
 |
| Pepino has a Bobtail! |
When the kitten was two months old, my veterinarian’s office
announced they were taking applications should the kitten survive. Then they
announced that the kitten has a severe case of a birth defect called Cerebellar
Hypoplasia (CH) and that all applicants needed to attend a “meet and greet”
with Mousey's primary veterinarian, Dr. Spagnoletti, to better understand what the kitten’s special
needs actually entailed. CH is also known as “wobbly cat syndrome”.
 |
| Pepino's Up for Adoption Picture |
This was the first time I’d ever heard about this defect as
many of these kittens are euthanized. Fortunately, the internet is an
incredibly powerful tool for research and to reach out to others that know
about this disorder. My kitten cam chat friends quickly put me in contact with
friends of theirs that cared for, and are guardians of, CH cats. One of them
added me to a Facebook group for people that have CH cats and dogs so I could
post questions and receive advice. I learned as much as I could about
Cerebellar Hypoplasia as I could.
 |
|
Pepino at Our “Meet
& Greet” Session
|
 |
|
Pepino in His Walker
at Our Meet & Greet
|
 |
|
Pepino’s Facebook
Picture Taken the Morning After I Adopted Him
|
Finally in a forever home, little Pepino thrived and quickly
gained weight. Dr. Spagnoletti gave me a “walker” she made for him and I’ve
made others to fit him as he grew. He learned to use a real litter box though
he falls over in it from time-to-time requiring I give him baths. I hold him as
he eats so he doesn’t fall over. His food dishes are soft silicone so he
doesn’t chip his teeth. At first, my other cats were afraid of him because he
didn’t move normally but have become accustom to him and actually play with
him.
 |
| Pepino Getting Weighed As He Grows |
Pat, and other CH guardians, told me about the special bond
that forms between a guardian and a severe CH cat and they are right. I have
strong bonds to all my “cubs” but Pepino is different. It’s a lot of work but I
hardly notice anymore. Pepino has no idea he’s disabled or even different. He
plays, wants to snuggle in the lap, he purrs when I pick him up, and reaches
out with his little paws when he sees me.
 |
| Baby Pepino |
In a way, it was time for me to adopt a special needs pet.
Barbara often thanks me for adopting what she calls “hard to place” cats from
AFOC. It took some time but each one “blossomed” once in their forever home.
Fiona, once terrified of people, now runs and plays around the house and sleeps
next to me. Dottie has socialized and become a member of “The Pride Cubs”.
Betsy and Josie are very happy they were adopted and show their gratitude each
day.
There are many wonderful companions in shelters that just
need a chance, a little understanding, and some time to adjust. The best thing
is there are lots of free resources online and among our friends to help us
all understand how to introduce a new pet to the family or the requirements of
a special needs pet. For example, blind cats do just fine so long as you don’t
move the furniture and other things around often. Cats with missing legs can
adapt and live happy lives too. Just look up “Lil’ Bunny Sue Roux”, a cat born
without front legs that gets around just fine “kangaroo style” and has become
an internet sensation. Even mild to moderate CH cats do great with simple
accommodations such as a high-sided litter box.
 |
| Pepino in his Playpen Next to His First Litter Box |
Many “special” pets can live as long a life as a “normal” pet. In many cases, adopting one can be a 20 year commitment. It’s easy to want to adopt a kitten as cute as Pepino was, overlooking his special needs and what that entails. The most important thing was learning as much as I could about his needs and the commitment I was making. For me, the rewards far outweigh his special needs. It is a commitment I was ready to make and I haven’t regretted for even a second since.
 |
| One Year Old Pepino Snuggled in His Human’s Lap, Safe, Happy and Loved |
