A Kitten With A Rare Ailment Defied The Odds And Grew Up To Be A Happy Cat

Penny Richards is a foster mother in Northern Virginia, USA, who specializes in rescuing newborn kittens. One day, he came across an Internet posting about a kitten that had been rescued from the streets and was in desperate need of care.

When the kitten’s mother was unable to be found, a kind-hearted lady spotted him alone in her yard and chose to take him inside.

Penny explained:

“She’d been attempting to look after him for a few days but wasn’t sure what to do. He would not have lived if she hadn’t taken him in.

As a result, Penny addressed the lady and offered her professional assistance in promptly moving him to his foster home. Penny had noticed something unusual about the kitten since she first saw him; he was unusually round and had an unusual physical form for a feline.

Leo, the small child, was pleased to be cared for, although he had difficulty handling objects, feeding himself, and appeared to have health issues. Penny began feeding him with a syringe throughout the day as a result.

The small feline’s hunger improved, he gained a lot of vitality, and he began to smell his surroundings with a lot of attention, medications, and special food.

Penny stated:

“I held him, and his small nose spent eons sniffing my face or my hands.”

As he became stronger, he cuddled into the toys, burying his face in them for a rest. He was too motivated to walk and began to explore the area as soon as he got more energy and power in his small little legs.

Penny  added:

“As the weeks passed, I became increasingly aware that he was not progressing as expected. He had no teeth at six weeks and his ears remained flat (kittens usually have teeth in about three weeks).

Despite the fact that he was half the size of a typical cat his age, Leo was always cheerful and eager to play.

Penny continued:

“From the beginning, he was an extremely happy guy, always purring and strolling with his weird cross-legged stride. He liked to roll over and slept on his back most of the time.

The lovely kitty was formally diagnosed with hypothyroidism, an uncommon condition in cats, after being evaluated by a specialized veterinarian.

Penny stated:

“Hypothyroidism hinders both cognitive and physical growth, which is why it has traditionally been regarded as a’special’ condition. Among other symptoms, this disease resulted in developmental delays.

Leo had short limbs and a spherical torso, as well as a wide head and a more squished small face than other cats.

His hypothyroidism was most likely hereditary, and his mother may have abandoned him since he was unable to cling to her and feeding him was difficult due to his physical condition.

Leo was prescribed thyroid medicine, and his physical growth began to improve almost immediately.

Penny had this to say:

“Over time, he evolved into a cat rather than a furball. She also learnt to use the litter box, drink water, and eat solid meals, but it took a long time for her to master all of these skills.

When Leo began to eat from a plate, he gladly gorged himself on a variety of meals throughout the day, gaining weight and increasing his vigor. His teeth eventually came out with the aid of correct medicine, and despite being a little clumsy, Leo didn’t stop playing.

Penny kept the young child at her side since he needed 24-hour care and little meals throughout the day.

As Leo’s growth progressed, he grew increasingly interested and energetic, and his personality began to emerge. He weighed around 2 pounds by the time he was 10 weeks old, had recovered his sight and hearing, and was focusing on honing his feline abilities.

The tabby cat grew over the following several weeks, coming closer and closer to being ready for the next stage of its existence.

Penny had this to say:

“When he was about four months old, and he was grown enough and we had stable thyroid levels, a wonderful couple approached me to adopt him.”

Leo’s new family showers him with love and provides him with the finest care possible to ensure that he has the best quality of life possible. His family claims he is a naughty child who virtually never falls on his feet and is unable to leap, yet this does not deter him from sleeping on his back.

After being rescued, Leo had to struggle a lot, but he has always been a very cheerful, loving, and lively young guy who likes to be cuddled.

Penny stated,

“I’m overjoyed to have seen him grow from a hairball to this joyful little kitten!”