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Kitten with Special Needs Clings to Foster Dad for Love After He was Saved
Lovemeow ^ | Jul 17 18 | Amy Bojo

Posted on 07/18/2018 12:11:45 AM PDT by vannrox

A teeny black kitten came to a veterinary clinic, in need of foster care. He was very wobbly and extremely tiny for his age.

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

About a month ago, Gus the kitten was taken into The Poppy Foundation at Bonanza Cat Hospital in Las Vegas after he was found on the streets in the brutal summer temperatures.

"It was thought that Gus had Cerebellar Hypoplasia because he was very unstable. He would fling his head around and showed all the signs of having this neurological disorder," Danielle, an avid foster based in Las Vegas, told Love Meow.

"I have experience with my own cat who had special needs, and something drew me to this little guy and I really wanted to help."

Once the kitten was cleared by the vet, Danielle brought him home where he met Foster Dad Elu.

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

"Foster dad always has a soft spot for the singletons. He feels so bad that they are alone and they don't have a playmate, so he becomes their playmate. Gus adores him (they all do... he's the kitten whisperer)," Danielle told Love Meow.

"Gus loves to rub his entire body across Foster Dad's face... over and over and over. He loves his playtime with his favorite person." (Scroll down for video)

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

During the first two weeks in foster care, Gus wore a neck brace to help stabilize him because he couldn't control his head at all and it was flopping all over. His left eye also needed to be removed due to a deep corneal ulcer, but Gus was too small for surgery.

Danielle has been treating his eye and keeping it lubricated every day around the clock until he is big enough. "I've been getting up all night doing this since I got him. So it's kind of like having a bottle baby," Danielle said.

Gus went in for a kiss with Foster Dad Elu.

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

Gus is the happiest little guy, who doesn't let anything slow him down. He demands attention and wants to be picked up and cuddled all the time.

Foster Dad Elu insisted on giving Gus his nightly bottles, and the tiny fur buddy began to put on weight. Every ounce he gained was something to be celebrated for in the family.

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

When they returned to the vet for a checkup, the kitten surprised everyone with the progress he had made in just two weeks.

"He got his neck brace off. Gus is walking so well now. His head is not tilting or having tremors any more. The brace really did its job," Danielle added.

On June 30, he finally reached one pound! "I was so happy, I literally cried."

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

"Gus is one extraordinary kitten. He has a sweet, gentle, playful, kind spirit. You would never know he had such a rough time in the beginning of his little life," Danielle told Love Meow.

"If Gus were a human, he'd be that guy that everyone wants to be around. The funny guy who makes everyone laugh. The guy that even though he has so many obstacles to still overcome, always has a smile on his face. (And the guy that all the ladies love because he is so adorable)."

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

Today, Gus is at one pound and 13 ounces. He still has a little more growing to do before he's ready for surgery. "But I have no doubts he is going to bounce back from that quickly. Having one eye is just going to make him that much more special."

Gus the wonder boy is always happy, bringing joy to everyone around him.

Danielle @fostercatsandkittens

Follow updates on Gus on Facebook and Instagram @fostercatsandkittens.

Watch Gus' foster journey in this video:

Share this story with your friends!

Related story: Kitten Found in Alley Gets Help to See and Thinks Her Foster Dad is Her 'Mom'



TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: belongsinchat; cat; kitten; kittyping; life; notnews; rescue; sidebarabuse
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1 posted on 07/18/2018 12:11:45 AM PDT by vannrox
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To: vannrox

all the little abandoned Tooties need good homes


2 posted on 07/18/2018 12:14:48 AM PDT by Lib-Lickers 2
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To: vannrox

Reminds me of some barn cats we raised from kittens after their mommy went missing. We fed them with syringes full of milk and kept them in baskets in the kitchen until they learned how to walk.


3 posted on 07/18/2018 12:19:25 AM PDT by GraceG ("Q is not a Cult, you can safely leave at any time, unlike Islam")
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To: vannrox

That is a good and compassionate man. Lucky kitty!


4 posted on 07/18/2018 12:27:09 AM PDT by BlackVeil ('The past is never dead. It's not even past.' William Faulkner)
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To: GraceG

you have been so kind...


5 posted on 07/18/2018 12:32:00 AM PDT by vannrox (The Preamble to the Bill of Rights - without it, our Bill of Rights is meaningless!)
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To: vannrox

Why’s this screen so blurry all of a sudden?


6 posted on 07/18/2018 12:35:31 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: vannrox

I’ll take it. No questions asked. They give you genuine love forever.


7 posted on 07/18/2018 12:37:58 AM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

“They give you genuine love forever.”

/
/

my cat bit my ass this morning while I was sleeping in bed so...


8 posted on 07/18/2018 1:12:28 AM PDT by snarkytart
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To: BlackVeil

cutest little thing


9 posted on 07/18/2018 1:18:16 AM PDT by snarkytart
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To: snarkytart

I have 3 cats living with me. 2 in and out girl cats and a gigantic indoor male cat. They don’t really like each other but if all 3 are in at night, aside from the hissing, they will usually all be within a few feet of each other in the morning sitting or lying quietly together. When you walk in the room they are in they all look at you. My daughter said to me one morning “the cats are having a pow wow in the living room”. I replied “no, they are plotting”.


10 posted on 07/18/2018 1:33:55 AM PDT by BBell (Antifa are like house cats. One squirt from a squirt bottle and they scatter.)
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To: vannrox

Lucky little cat - good to see an instance of kindness in the world. I saw some idiotic article a few weeks ago that said dogs are a man’s pet, while cats are a woman’s pet. I’ve owned and loved both, but a cat was the perfect pet when I was a young, single guy - very low maintenance, just throw out the kitty litter once a week and keep their food and water bowls filled. If you want to go somewhere for a long weekend, the cat will be fine by itself and you won’t come back to your apartment or house trashed. Try that with a dog. Dogs are absolutely terrific, but definitely require more work and attention - better pets for when you have a family to help split the workload.


11 posted on 07/18/2018 2:42:31 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: vannrox

Awwww..so sweet.

A young feral has found his way to my back porch. I wish he’d come at the kitten stage like this little guy. He’ll talk to me, and he allows me to feed him, but that’s it.


12 posted on 07/18/2018 2:52:24 AM PDT by Heart of Georgia
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To: vannrox
Thank-you 🐱 kittens and 🐱 cats foster parents for all that you do, including for those with special needs. God Bless. 🐱
13 posted on 07/18/2018 3:47:23 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: Slings and Arrows
PINGS! 🐱☺
14 posted on 07/18/2018 3:48:46 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: All

My allergies must be acting up cuz’ my eyes are watering a bit.....


15 posted on 07/18/2018 5:03:06 AM PDT by Maverick68
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To: Heart of Georgia

DON’T give up & here’s why! We started feeding a stray adult feral about 5 or 6 years ago. She finally got to the point where we could pet her. We have a work table in the carport. We put an insulated doghouse on it filled with quilts & fleece throws. We have 2 dogs& a cat indoors. This winter was brutally cold. No matter how my h we tried luring our feral in she wouldn’t come even though it was obvious she so wanted to. Finally, over Thanksgiving break my husband kidnapped her one cold night & brought her in. She was tentative & skittish, but we kept doing it & one evening we found her curled up on the bed looking like a queen! She now comes in all the time & sleeps inside at night. She gets on my chest & purrs & rubs & we take weekend naps.

This happened just last year, SO never give up hope. To us it is pretty much a miracle come true. I’ll think good thoughts about you & your feral.


16 posted on 07/18/2018 5:07:52 AM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: vannrox

Thank you for the morning heart melt. Those pictures, what a doll. And THAT is a real man!


17 posted on 07/18/2018 5:09:20 AM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: leaning conservative

That is a great story!

Kudos to you.


18 posted on 07/18/2018 5:21:44 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (Get off my lawn and GTFO of my country.)
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To: leaning conservative

Wow .. good for you, very good to know!

I don’t want to give up on him, but I don’t have years. This is a house we’ve been renting out for the past 14 years, but now we’re getting it ready to sell, so we’ll be going back home pretty soon.

Thank you for your encouragement though. I don’t want to give up on him. I’ve thought about contacting one of those trap and release groups in order to at least get him neutered and rabies vaccine.

He’s come a long way in just 6 weeks. He used to run whenever I looked out the window. Now, he sits about 2 feet away while I take care of water and food. I have a large scaffold next to the porch, and he’s taken to sleeping there.

I’ve also noticed him sitting on the scaffold or the porch rail, just watching me as I’m at the computer. Whenever I glance up, he stretches and yawns...which I take as a cat cue that he doesn’t feel threatened and maybe trusts me a little.


19 posted on 07/18/2018 5:25:13 AM PDT by Heart of Georgia
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To: dfwgator
Why’s this screen so blurry all of a sudden?

Must be a computer virus, mine caught it too......

20 posted on 07/18/2018 5:30:41 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I once found a needle in a haystack but it wasn't the one I was looking for...)
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