Kitten who’s paralyzed thrives with love

Today, Cubby the kitten is full of energy and attitude. He loves to play, pounce, and explore, and he never says no to cuddles. He’s hardly recognizable from the day he was found unresponsive outside in New York City.

He came to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in New York, where the team discovered his back legs were paralyzed — likely a condition he was born with — and he couldn’t use the litter box on his own. He was also thin and didn’t have an appetite.

Fragile kittens like Cubby can become a statistic when they land in shelters that are already full and struggling to save healthy pets. To help, Best Friends supports shelters in reaching no-kill by taking in pets who may need extra care before going to homes — pets like Cubby.

The team quickly got to work nursing him back to health but knew he’d eventually need more specialized care. So off to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary he went.

At the Sanctuary, Cubby met a kindred spirit — Licorice. The two are twins in more ways than one: Licorice also has velvety black fur and is paralyzed. A quiet but powerful friendship formed between them as they found comfort in one another.

Despite having a friend to lean on, Cubby appeared stressed and was losing weight. But there was a solution: one-on-one attention in a foster home.

Best Friends veterinary technician Tina Sylvester brought Cubby home to foster, and Cubby thrived with all the TLC in the home environment. His personality also blossomed as he learned to navigate Tina’s home.

“He is actually quite fast, despite not being able to actually run,” Tina says. As Cubby got stronger, he learned to use his front legs to move around and especially to play, pouncing on anything that moves.

[Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life]

Out came a confident, curious little guy who explored the world within Tina’s home — even introducing himself to her ferret, who dutifully ignored Cubby while giving him a curious side eye.

In true Cubby fashion, not letting anything stop him, he tackled the stairs leading to the couch so he could find a comfy spot at the top — or seek out cuddles and affection from Tina. His sweet nature and playful attitude made life at home fun for his foster family.

Tina watched Cubby thrive under her loving, attentive care. He gained weight, and with his newfound confidence, he recently returned to the Sanctuary (and to his buddy Licorice) to meet potential adopters. Cubby will always be willing to trade snuggles and love for a little assistance using the litter box, and with his big eyes and bigger heart, how could you say no to such a trade?

[Paralyzed cat has sweet spirit that can’t be stopped]

From the streets of New York City to the cozy couch of a foster home, Cubby has turned hardship into a superpower — warming hearts and bringing comfort to his caregivers and feline friends alike.

His journey proves that with a little help, a cat with a challenging start can overcome any obstacle and live a life full of love and adventure.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.