Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life

Does Frittata have the recipe for the good life? It sure seems that way. Every day is an opportunity for the white-and-gray tabby cat to have a nap in the sun, play to his heart’s content, and cuddle with the people he loves. Nothing stops him from finding joy and sharing it with others — certainly not the fact that he doesn’t have full use of his hind legs.

Today, Frittata is having the time of his life at home with his adopter, Allison Lemley. But when he landed at a shelter as a kitten, unable to stand, his life could have been at risk even before it really had a chance to begin. Luckily, the shelter has partnerships with other organizations, including Best Friends Animal Society. That’s one of the most important ways that shelters across the country have reached no-kill — by working together to save more lives — and it’s how Frittata came to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City.

Best Friends veterinarian Dr. Megan McCarthy examined Frittata when he arrived. When X-rays and other tests came back inconclusive, he went to see a neurologist, who determined that Frittata’s hind leg paralysis is likely due to an injury to his spinal cord or a condition he was born with. Because he is also incontinent, he will always need to have his bladder manually emptied, or expressed, three to four times a day.

[Kitten comes back from the brink]

While nothing would help Frittata walk on all four legs, nothing was going to stop him from playing, pouncing, and having fun either. A feline social butterfly, it didn’t take him long to capture Allison’s attention (and her heart).

She decided to adopt Frittata as soon as she met him. Today, he often zips around the house in a wheelchair that Allison bought for him. And because she works at a veterinary hospital, she takes him to work with her every day. Plus, Frittata has cat siblings and a canine sibling, too. He loves them all.

He’s also getting stronger. Today, he can lift his body using one of his rear legs and stand. What can happen through lots of love, a pinch of hope, and a dash of time is amazing. It’s a recipe for the good life.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill by 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.