Heartbreak as cat rejects litter but volunteer saves the day

An animal shelter volunteer has received acclaim after rescuing a three-week old kitten who appeared to have been tragically abandoned by her mother alongside the entire litter.

Mother cat Paisley and her struggling youngsters were brought to a shelter where staff member Kelsey stepped forward to take over feeding responsibilities. Among the kittens were tabbies Prim and her sister Pru – who both seemed wobbly on their feet and hindered by a neurological condition.

After Paisley was spayed and returned to her owners, her kittens stayed in care where they rapidly adapted to their new environment. Besides her neurological disorder, Prim also suffers from an eye condition – but she evidently doesn’t allow that to hold her back as Kelsey swiftly realised.

“Without a proper diagnosis, we treated it as if they had cerebellar hypoplasia (CH),” Kelsey told cat website, Love Meow. “We monitor their growth and progress like any other kitten, while staying mindful of their neurological symptoms.”

Kelsey revealed that most of the litter mastered self-feeding within 24 hours of arriving – including Prim and Pru. Nevertheless, their brother Pedro initially found it difficult but soon matched his siblings’ progress.

As they grew stronger from solid food, Prim and Pru became more stable – though the former stayed considerably smaller than her brothers and sisters. Kelsey praised her resilience, stating: “It’s possible that she has involuntary eye movements which affect coordination and can mimic vision impairment,” and added that a full neurological exam was imminent.

Despite her challenges, Prim is as active as her littermates, successfully using the litter box, playing with toys, climbing and being a bundle of energy, Kelsey noted. And describing Prim’s curious nature, Kelsey said: “She is a silly girl who is very curious, and she loves to explore,” adding that Prim has developed a fascination with a dog named Fletcher, who occasionally visits the shelter.

Kelsey revealed that whenever she enters the room, Prim eagerly hops onto her lap or climbs onto her shoulders. She likened the experience to Prim saying, “I’m not done yet!” whenever she attempts to settle her on her lap.

In an Instagram post last week, the Indianapolis-based shelter announced: “Prim is gaining weight! Woohoo. I want her to be a bit over 2lb before surgery. She will also need a neuro exam before she is available for adoption.”

The shelter emphasised that Prim would require a home with someone prepared to care for a kitten with visual impairment. They explained: “She will need a home with someone who is prepared to care for a kitten with visual impairment. It doesn’t stop her from doing most things but because she is currently kept in a single room she has what she needs close by. She will get to explore more of the house this week to see how she does with other obstacles.”