“The Little Kitty That Could” is a young special needs kitten who had a Facebook page and a group of devoted supporters shortly after being rescued by the woman who adopted her.
Carmen Bernard found the kitten in the middle of the road in Jacksonville, FL on December 9. Carmen initially feared the kitten with the twisted leg hadd been hit by a car. She took the kitten to the vet first thing the following morning and learned more about the very special little creature. The kitten, later named Pretzel, was blind, showing no pupilary reflex to light, though the vet said she might gain some sight as she grows. Pretzel was not injured; she was born with deformities. Her right hind leg is facing backward, and is twisted. The vet said kitty’s pelvis and left leg are abnormal. Her little tail is stubby, too.
Pretzel is not just special as in special needs, she is special as a sweet and beautiful little kitten who is also adorable and very endearing. She has become a valued member of her family, and is bonded with the family’s two dogs.
Carmen, who has years of experience as a vet tech, decided to pursue treatment to determine what Pretzel’s vision issues are, and to help straighten her legs, if possible. A visit to a veterinary specialist during the first week of January was unsatisfactory and did not inspire confidence, so Carmen made an appointment with a specialist at the University of Florida at Gainesville. The doctor in Jacksonville recommended amputation of the twisted right leg without looking at the kitten’s imperfect left leg and pelvis and considering the effect the amputation would have on them. Carmen, as a pet parent wanting the best for the kitten and as a vet tech with an understanding of what treatment would be beneficial, was not ready to give up on procedures to straighten Pretzel’s leg.
Carmen took Pretzel to the University of Florida this past Wednesday, January 16, and reported that the staff there were caring, friendly and professional, and inspired confidence in a way that the Jacksonville staff did not. She wrote, “What a day. I would like to say first and foremost the staff at the University of Florida are amazing. Everyone from the receptionists to the students to the doctors just go out of their way to make you feel important. They listen to what you have to say and answer all of your questions. They were very thorough today. Two thumbs way up to you guys! ”
The visit to Gainesville confirmed something Carmen knew was a possibility but had not quite believed beforehand; that Pretzel is completely blind and will remain so. Tests showed that, ‘”The part of the eye that transmits information to the brain never formed. There is just a ‘hole’ where her optic nerves are supposed to be. She will never have any sight.” Carmen said she has had blind pets before, and she knows they are able to live normal lives. Like many blind kitties, Pretzel will play with objects as long as they make some sound or she can sense them with her whiskers. She also navigates well.
The staff at Gainesville’s orthopedic department agreed that surgery on both legs is the best option to give Pretzel the best improvement in her condition. After reviewing the radiograph images, the doctor noted that the knee joint in pretzel’s right leg was too twisted to do the surgery right away. The kitten went home with a big, stiff brace that will need to be reset every few days for the next month. Her movement in videos uploaded since getting the brace show that rather than being held back by the bound up leg, she uses it to her advantage.
Carmen writes, “On to the visit in the orthopedic department. The doctor walks into the room and says something along the lines of… Oh Pretzel! I know all about her. We have been expecting you. Don’t you know she’s famous? I have even watched her videos on Facebook.”
She continues, “After the joint is better realigned we can proceed with the surgery ON BOTH LEGS. Yes you read that right. Her left leg also has to be stabilized. He wants to operate on both legs at the same time.” The initial surgery is expected to run around $2,500, and there may be additional surgeries. A ChipIn is accepting donations to help pay for Pretzel’s medical bills.
“We had the first splint applied while I was there and as expected it was very painful for Pretzel. ” The doctors advised having Pretzel stay for a few days for observation while her pain medication was adjusted. Carmen was able to bring Pretzel back home on Friday. As seen in the video below, Pretzel was very unhappy and complaining about riding in the crate with the cone of shame around her neck, but she settled down upon arriving back at home.
Her doggie friend Cici missed her and even slept next to the litter box on Wednesday night, waiting for her. Pretzel is back to snuggling, and playing and having fun.
For more on The Little Kitty That Could at our site, see Little Kitty That Could and The Little Kitty That Could: Cat vs Mouse
You can follow all of Pretzel’s updates, news and photos at her The Little Kitty That Could Facebook page.
Here is a very unhappy kitty heading home from the hospital.
Here she is having a 2:30am play session.
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