Adorable Kitten Looks Ridiculously Like A Grandpa
A tiny kitten with a cleft palate and twisted hind legs was first seen as a lost cause, but his story took a much softer turn. Instead of giving up, his original owners looked for help, and that decision led him to Stephanie and Stray Cat Alliance, where one glance at his face changed everything.
Stephanie quickly noticed the newborn had a look that was impossible to ignore, and it inspired a name that fit him perfectly: Grandpa. From tube-feeding and waiting for surgery to settling into foster life, this little cat kept proving he was not done yet.
And once you see why he got that name, it is hard to forget him.
Thankfully, through the help of a friend, the owners were able to surrender the kitten to Stephanie with the support of Stray Cat Alliance.
Health report aside, Stephanie immediately noticed something else peculiar about the newborn kitten: he had the face of a little old man.
In an interview with Bored Panda, Stephanie said:
"It’s hard to describe how I felt when I first saw Grandpa. I foster day-old kittens all the time, but I knew instantly that he was special. His name just came naturally with his little smushed face and calm demeanor."
The distinctive facial features inspired Stephanie to name the tiny kitten Grandpa. She told The Dodo:
"When I foster kittens, I try to give them funny names like Turtle or Starfish, but when Grandpa was handed to me, that was the first name I thought of when I saw his little face."
That name stuck immediately.
She added:
"I had no idea it would be such a hit and would actually match his personality so much."
She also told The Dodo:
"For the most part, he’s slow-moving and gentle. He will just sit up and stare out into space. He enjoys getting his fur brushed with a toothbrush."
When he first arrived, it was determined that Grandpa was "still too young to have his cleft palate surgery," and they had to tube-feed him until he got older.
Stephanie told Bored Panda:
"His right leg has made a lot of improvement with the constant massages and currently has a small splint on his toes. The left leg, on the other hand, did not make any further improvement, and the vet has determined that his bone is also twisted. The left twisted leg will be left alone for now; further evaluation will be done when he is older."
Then came the long wait.
This feels similar to the senior cat moved into a “fospice home” after an elderly owner was forced to give it up.
Time has passed—over four months—and Grandpa still lives with Stephanie, but that's no mystery! She told Bored Panda:
"The day I got Grandpa, I told myself I would not keep him. Four weeks later, I can’t imagine giving him up to another family. I know we have a long road ahead and a lot of work to be done. He’s already home!"
As many fosters before her have said, fostering is hard. It's a tough life, especially when it comes to special needs cats and kittens. But Stephanie is really cut out for it.
She told Bored Panda:
"I foster kittens in need. I have fostered kittens with ruptured eyes, broken limbs, and other congenital issues. When I was told he had twisted legs, I knew I could help him. I agreed instantly over the phone without any other knowledge of his condition."
"When I was told he would possibly be euthanized, I knew I at least had to try."
"I think about him all the time, not only because he’s adorable but because I constantly stress about his health. All totally worth it! I have a support system of friends and family, and now his little Instagram family who don’t miss a post!"
Grandpa clearly found the right foster home.
Here's how you can keep up with or even help Gramps & Stray Cat Alliance:
Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker once said, "You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." This sentiment resonates with pet lovers everywhere, especially when it comes to adopting adorable animals like kittens. For those interested in supporting animal welfare, consider visiting Stray Cat Alliance to learn more about helping stray cats find loving homes. Additionally, you can explore Amazon Wishlist for ways to contribute to their care.
He is impossible not to root for.
Heartbreaking like the Florida kitten abandoned without food, water, or air conditioning, see how rescuers swung into action.
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