To see a kitten born with a cleft lip (or cleft palate) is a very rare thing. It can cause them a lot of problems especially when it comes to eating.
This little cat however, is determined not to make a fuss of his handicap. Once he was surrounded by love and encouraged by the staff at the shelter, he gradually forgot how difficult it was at the start of his life.
Earlier this month, Alley Cat Rescue in Los Angeles were contacted about an abandoned kitten. The poor little thing was found all alone, tangled in some electrical wires outside an office building.
His mother was nowhere to be seen.
When his rescuers arrived at the scene, they noticed there was something a bit different about this kitten.
“We could see he had a cleft lip and knew he needed help. He was immediately taken to our vet to get checked out,” they explained.
Once back at the shelter they decided to name him Frito and worked out he was about 8 weeks old.
He weighed only 400 grams, which meant he was severely undernourished.
It was obvious to all that his cleft lip prevented him from eating properly. He was also infested with fleas and parasites.
When Frito arrived at the shelter he immediately showed his need for love and affection, he especially loved cuddles.
The staff paid a lot of attention to his diet. He found it difficult to eat so they gave him loads of help and encouragement.
“He is able to eat and loves his food, but he is definitely underweight so we are increasing his intake very slowly.”
Once Frito was flea free he was allowed to meet some of the other cats at the shelter.
That’s when he met Bubblegum, a big alley cat at least four times his size that instantly took a liking to Frito.
The pair have now become inseparable and they share lots of play-fighting and cozy naps.
Frito is now unrecognizable since entering the shelter. This tiny kitten has heaps of personality.
Soon he will joining kittens of his own age in order to socialize him.
It’s always heartwarming to see the amazing work that animal rescuers do.
Frito is no longer alone. He is gaining weight, growing bigger every day and his awesome personality is shining through.
