Merida desperately needed help. The young cat was found in very poor condition on a farm in Ohio (USA). Jillian, founder of FosterBabyCats, rushed to her rescue.
When Jillian learned that a 2-month-old kitten needed help, she immediately hopped in her car to pick him up. Probably «trampled by a large farm animal», Merida ended up with a serious spinal injury. His hind legs became unusable as a result of this accident.
Once in her arms, the volunteer took her new charge to a veterinary clinic. On the spot, the health professionals admitted to him that they could not do anything. Jillian didn’t hear it that way and decided to give the little feline a fighting chance.
A little warrior
During her quest to make life better for the kitten, Jillian met Dr. Jackie Holdsworth. “She reached out to us, gave us advice and sent us a ton of supplies to help us take care of Merida,” Jillian told our colleagues.
The young cat, who was named after the main character of the animated film Rebelle, was determined to live, despite her disability. Indifferent to the gaze of others and endowed with an iron will, the furball began to explore its new environment by dragging its paralyzed limbs, but also to make its law among the feline residents!
Merida may only have 2 functional legs, she remains a real little fighter.
“Every day is a new adventure”
In the months following her arrival in her foster family, Merida underwent a slew of treatments and therapies. One day, she received a mini trolley equipped with 2 wheels.
At that moment, his energy – already overflowing – increased tenfold! The little tornado ventures all over the house and has fun with its congeners. “She can roll over, stretch, lie down, climb, sneak up on other cats, etc. They [the wheels] don’t interfere with his movement at all,” Jillian explained.
Even when her accessory is removed, the cat is extremely active. «Every day is a new adventure, and I’m just here to help her live her life to the fullest, confided her guardian angel, she’s my first paraplegic cat and I really could count on many veterinarians who guided to take care of her. It was around her 9 months that I realized I was quite capable of keeping her fulfilled and happy. »
Merida won the obstacle course hands down, and her new mom gave her a second chance at life. “She pushed me to learn how to take care of a paralyzed kitten and how to help her thrive, concluded Jillian, I am so happy that she feels safe and so proud of the progress she has made. »
