An adorable rescue kitten who was stuck in the splits has now found his fur-ever home at a cat sanctuary where he’s cared for by kind-hearted volunteers. The cat named Moped landed at Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary in West Yorkshire at just seven weeks old with his back legs splayed out at a 180-degree angle.
Sweet snaps when he first arrived show the pint-sized kitten’s legs spread far apart and forming a horizontal line – in a position cheerleaders or gymnasts regularly strike. But unlike elite athletes who have to work on stretching to this near-perfect straight line, the blue-eyed puss was stuck in the splits due to a spinal injury, which meant he also needed to wear nappies.
Now the one-year-old cat, who can’t walk due to his injury, lives alongside other disabled cats at Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary. Sanctuary founder Katie Lloyd said: “Moped was stuck in the splits, we believe that he was stamped on as a kitten fracturing the bottom of his spine and his pelvis.
“Despite such early trauma and violence he’s absolutely gorgeous. He’s cheeky, he’s loving and he’s very protective. His best friend’s called Winter, she’s got brain damage, he always comforts her when she has seizures.
“His biggest issues are that he can’t walk and he has to wear protective clothing so he doesn’t get sore.” Moped’s bones have fused as he’s grown, so while his legs were initially stuck in the splits they now rest to the side.
During Covid Katie said there was a boost in the cat population, but because many owners failed to insure, neuter or vaccinate their pets it ‘stretched organisations to the limits’. The sanctuary’s SENSE [safe, enriching, nurturing and sensory] sanctuary helps 20 cats with additional needs have good lives.
Katie said: “During the pandemic we had people getting cats but never thought about insuring, neutering, vaccines and stuff like that. Then cats are getting poorly and they’re inbreeding – so creating more and more cats with critical needs, it’s just a vicious circle.
“As a rescue Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary is unique in that we have many cats and kittens with severe injuries including brain and physical injuries. We need to take into account their extra special needs and requirements.
“When working with kitties with extra special needs we work within our SENSE framework. We believe that in providing these five elements of care to our cats with extra special needs, that their quality of life will be the best it possibly can be. Most of the cats in our SENSE sanctuary would be put to sleep if they were elsewhere because we’re committed to providing that care.”
Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary is volunteer-run and relies entirely on donations to do the work it does. Katie said: “It’s very rewarding for myself and the volunteers.
“While all these cats with these severe disabilities may not have as long a life as an able-bodied cat, we ensure they have a really good quality of life while they’re with us. Regarding donations it doesn’t matter if it’s £1 or £100 – every penny goes into the pot and it helps the cats.”
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