A kitten walked for the first time at nearly six months old. She is now living each day to the fullest.
YukieChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
Amethyst stumbled upon a post online about four kittens from a cat colony. One of them was noticeably smaller than the rest, and her hind legs curled in an unexpected way.
While her siblings honed their gait, she moved by dragging her hindquarters on the ground. Amethyst contacted the lady who found them and offered to help the litter of four and their mother cat.
The mother cat was able to raise her kittens safely with a roof over her head, plenty of food, and support.
She was born with deformed hind legsChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
When the kittens were weaned and old enough, the mom was spayed and happily returned to the lady who found her and cared for her. Chatons Orphelins Montreal, an animal rescue, took the four kittens under their wing.
Yukie, the kitten with twisted legs, tried to keep up with her siblings and amazed everyone with her fortitude.
She moved by dragging her hindquartersChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
Her right back leg had a malformed knee joint, and her left back leg was severely twisted. "It curved in the wrong direction and scraped against the ground with every movement," Celine of Chatons Orphelins Montreal shared.
Due to the complexity of her deformity, they believed the best option to improve her quality of life was to correct the twisted leg.
Yukie and her siblingsChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
At five months old, Yukie underwent major surgery, which put her left leg in the right direction. "This leg will serve as support when she walks. Also, it will no longer rub against the ground."
A few days after surgery, Yukie was up on her paws, trying to walk.
Yukie had her leg surgery at five months oldChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
Her foster family showered her with cuddles every day, and her leg healed beautifully.
She regained strength and coordination, her legs moving with increasing ease. After two weeks of resting and recovery, Yukie adapted to walking with both hind paws.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
For the first time in her six months of life, she explored the house on all fours. She used her left leg as support as she propelled herself forward with her other limbs.
With her newfound mobility, her personality truly blossomed.
Yukie explored the house on all foursChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
"She enjoys the fun moments playing with feather toys as much as the quiet moments when she settles down for a nap or surveys the room like a little chief inspector."
She supervises her people as they go about their day.
She's the chief inspector of the houseChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
"Yukie will fall asleep on her humans when they watch TV. She is still a baby and loves to be cuddled. She instantly purrs if you pet her."
She adores the company of the older resident cats and melts into them when they dote on her with a bath.
She's perfected the art of lap cuddlesChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
She's a young cat with an old soul and cherishes the quiet time with both her human and feline companions. She thrives on their love and affection.
Yukie enjoys her life as a spoiled kitty.
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
It's been nothing short of miraculous to see Yukie, now eight months old, walking briskly and carrying herself confidently.
"She can move around independently and use the litter box just like any 'normal' kitty. She is a little fighter."
ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal
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