Bebe was born with deformities in her front and back limbs. She had contracture in her front paws causing her to walk on her wrists and splayed back legs which made it a little more difficult for her to learn how to walk. This is extremely rare in kitties and if seen at all it's typically found in dogs. Thankfully this condition is treatable with consistent rigorous physical therapy. With such a feisty 3week old cutie presented to us after our friend was advised over the phone by a vet to put the kitty down we just knew we had to help. The vets only reasoning for that was because she can't feed herself and get around yet. We took on this task as if she was our baby. We bottle fed formula and spoon fed healthy hills pate to Bebe every few hours for weeks until she could eat from a bowl. We expressed her blatter as needed and stimulated her till she learned to poop on her training pads. Each time she knocked down an obstacle we saw how independent she wanted to be and how much drive she had. She started out going everywhere with us in a box and I'd love on her all day as would she. Always licking my face and playing with my hair. We began water pt and walking exercises between two boards then suddenly the wires connected one day and she was unstoppable. She was off and running around everywhere. Of course the texture of the floor would be a big variable, carpet being better because slick floors caused her to flatten out. I started fashioning little sweaters and bands to prevent her from falling no matter the terrain. We covered her favorite areas with blankets so she was comfortable and wouldn't hurt her nubbies. She was getting incredibly strong so instead of carting her around everywhere we bebe-proofed the house for her stay home with her kitty family. We came home everyday on break to make sure she could pee and everything was okay. I always wanted to make her as happy as possible. She had so many toys and blankets. All the kitties played with her, sometimes they'd be afraid because she was quick and feisty with that mouth. Our little carpet shark lol. Never too mean to mommy and daddy though, always gave us kisses if we said ouch. I'd wake up to her licking me. She'd need me to express her then she'd thank me again with more kisses. She had her shots and vet visits. We tried to get x-rays to see if all her bones were okay but she was always too excited to hold still and they said when she got bigger we'd try again. Bebe was getting around but she still couldn't scratch her ears or clean her bottom. We noticed a sore forming on the vulva that we treated with antibiotics numerous times, it never seemed to go away but it would clear up slightly. We changed her diet and hopes to cut down on whatever mineral might be building up making her pee burn her. We continued giving her baths twice a day. Bay continued being her energetic playful self. Suddenly one day she threw up all her food and couldn't walk, the next day she peed blood and we rushed her to the vet for x-rays followed by the Animal Emergency clinic for treatment. By the time she got to the ER she didn't have much blood left. They immediately put her on fluids in an incubator. She started opening her eyes and we held her paw singing Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, specifically "I looove you baaaay bay, and if it's quite all right I need you Bay Bay" the doctor informed us her kidneys were abnormal and there wasn't much we could do at this point we just wanted her to have had a beautiful life without pain. We let her go. It was so hard and still is. She lived with us for six amazing months and I just wish I could have given her everything, I wish I could've had more time. I know she was always happy and playful, I can be okay with that. She would hop into our arms when we came home and want to cuddle the night away. Never will there be another Bay. That being said I don't want to stop helping handicapped pets. They deserve love, happiness and a fighting chance. We may even start an organization in her name for cats specifically but it'll raise awareness for all handicapped animals. Had Bebe's kidneys been normal she would had lived a long life with a loving family despite her handicap. Don't be sad she's gone be happy she was here in the first place ❤️
