The mouse was born with a congenital deformity that caused his front legs not to develop properly, but that didn’t stop him from being an adventurous and loving cat. When he was brought to the Best Friends Animal Society’s Salt Lake City Kitten Nursery, the staff noticed his determination and bravery, despite his disability.
Many feral cats take a long time to get used to being inside around people and other cats, but Mouse flourished in his foster home, showing them he was brave and adventurous and that he enjoyed being a house cat!
He also loves boxes and bags! Soon, it was time for Mouse to find a forever family of his own. As fate would have it, his foster mom was sure she knew the perfect couple.
“Lana works with a coworker who volunteers at Best Friends Animal Shelter in the Salt Lake City region and fostered a tiny kitten named Mouse. She kept suggesting that we would be excellent parents for a cat with special needs,” Curtis Crichton said about meeting Mouse.
“We met Mouse, and I’m not sure if he chose us or whether we selected him, but I know he instantly took us.”
“We don’t think of him as having a disability,” Curtis added. “When we encounter other cats with long legs, they appear strange to us. He’ll occasionally pause to catch his breath because his rib cage is narrower than usual if he’s been running hard.”
Curtis says he enjoys batting around plastic rings from milk bottles for hours. He adores feather toys on poles, attacking feet from beneath the dust ruffle, and salmon snacks. The top stair with the morning sunshine streaming in is ideal for napping or a chair in the upstairs study when it’s time to sleep.
What’s the story with those tiny legs, anyway? Curtis has a fantastic tale that demonstrates the cat’s loud character.:
One morning, I was preparing polenta for breakfast and attempted to put something in the refrigerator when I realized Smalls had gotten behind the counter. He was on top of the kitchen counter with his nose immersed in my pot of polenta, which made me wonder how he managed to get his tiny self up there. “How did you manage to climb up there?” I asked as I picked him up and set him down on the floor.
He jogged past the couch, trampolined off the sofa onto our stuffed chair’s back, and leaped to a dining room chair’s rear. It was a short hop from there to the kitchen counter. He walked around the counter, passed by the sink, and arrived at the stove, where I was standing. “There, Dad; that’s how I did it!” he yelled as he streaked across the living room, trampolined off the couch onto our stuffed chair’s back, and leaped to a dining room chair’s rear.
Now, Mouse is living his best life with his forever family. He loves exploring and playing and is always up for a cuddle. His story is of courage, hope, and a reminder that every animal deserves a loving home.
