Domestic Long Hair, Tabby - Grey

Stormy is a very special little girl, with a spirit that just can’t be broken. We received a call about an injured kitten and one of our foster moms rushed out to help. Once we realized the extent of this poor baby's injuries, her sweet, loving nature brought tears to our eyes. This kitten had a dislocated ankle, abrasions on her paw pads, and some paralysis in her leg and tail. Despite the abuse and pain, she came into her foster home purring and kneading - the video was taken the same night she was rescued The next day, our vets said that Stormy had suffered nerve damage to her ankle, foot, leg and tail. Her foot flopped like rubber in every direction. She just dragged her injured leg like dead weight, and her tail dragged on the ground too. She had abrasions on her paw pads, and we believe she was thrown from a car. We were all shocked when we saw the x-rays: she’d also been shot with a BB gun, and the BB was still embedded in one of her vertebra. She was only three months old and had already learned how cruel some people can be. But, things were only going to get worse for poor Stormy. We hoped to avoid surgery or amputation of her leg, so she spent months in a splint while the tendons and ligaments healed. When the splint finally came off, her little ankle had improved but still could not bear any weight. She was getting some feeling back in her leg and tail, though. It seemed like amputation of her leg might be the only option. Then Stormy’s story appeared in the San Jose Mercury News in Linda Goldston’s pet column. Many readers were touched by her story and sent donations to Stormy’s Fund; and many sent cards, notes, and prayers too. A local veterinary orthopedic surgeon performed the surgery, which inserted a metal plate, screws, and a bone graft into her damaged ankle and leg. Then a hard fiberglass splint went on and we all hoped that she would eventually be restored to health. Two months later, the hard splint came off; x-rays showed that everything looked successful, but the leg was very atrophied. Understandable, since she hadn’t really been able to use it for months and months. We put a soft splint back on her and let her be a normal kitten for a while. She started putting weight on that leg, then walking and jumping almost normally. The leg appeared nearly normal, though the foot and ankle were still a bit floppy. Then, more bad news for Stormy. Her bad leg developed some swelling in it and she was not her usual spunky self. We took her to our vets, and they found she had suffered a partial dislocation which would certainly have been very painful for Stormy. So, the surgery, metal plate and bone graft had all been successful. But her tendons and ligaments were just too damaged to hold her ankle and leg in place. At that point, we all agreed that the best thing to do for Stormy was to amputate her leg, nurse her through the difficult recovery period and try to give her a normal kitty life – although on three legs. The surgery was performed, and once again Stormy showed her wonderful spirit by attempting to stand up only hours after surgery. She went back to her foster home the same night and was confined to a kitty condo for two weeks. She was given pain meds, extra care and love, and made as comfortable as possible. Eventually, she was “freed” and had the run of her room again. In no time at all, she learned to walk, run, jump and leap on only three legs. She now has a cute little bunny hop and seems not to miss that leg at all – except maybe when she likes to lean on her foster mom when she needs to take a nap or to groom herself. And after a manicure (claw clipping), she sometimes misses some of those leaps and jumps, and lands on her side with a big thud on the floor. She also falls off the bed with a thud. So she is not as agile as a 4-legged cat or as graceful (thud!) but she sure tries. (It’s definitely harder for her after a manicure – or after some catnip.) With only three feet, “a cat always lands on its feet” is no longer a true statement. Her new family will have to ensure that Stormy will be safe in her new home. Stormy has adapted well to life on three legs, and is now available for adoption. Her spirit is unbreakable, her trust in humans unwavering, despite what was done to her. Because of her injuries she has not been socialized to other cats. The few recent attempts to introduce her to a very sweet adult female cat were disastrous, and Stormy is now absolutely terrified (and will attack) other cats. She must be an “only fur-child” for now, although you could introduce her to a kitten in the future after she is comfortable and secure in her new home. She must always be an indoor-only cat, and never declawed. We think that she would be happier in a quiet, adult home since she’s never been exposed to children (or dogs). She has been spayed, microchipped, and is current on all vaccines. We hope that someone special will fall in love with her and want to give Stormy a home where she will always be loved and pampered and never have to fear abuse again If you'd like to do that for this wonderful little girl, please contact her foster mom.