Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi everyone,

Our rescue, Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue (SOAR), is welcoming a very special little kitten into our care this afternoon-a 3.5 to 4-week-old paraplegic baby. We already have a vet appointment scheduled immediately after pickup with our attending veterinarian to assess the kitten's overall health and begin developing a thorough care plan.

That said, this is our first time caring for a paraplegic kitten, and I'd really appreciate any advice, tips, or resources from those who have experience with mobility-impaired cats-especially at such a young age. We're fully committed to providing the best possible quality of life and long-term support, and we want to make sure we're starting off on the right paw.

Some specific things I'd love guidance on:

• Diapering or expressing needs for a kitten this small

• Hygiene and skin care to prevent sores or infections

• Mobility support or enrichment at this early developmental stage

• Feeding and weight-bearing considerations

• Emotional/mental health tips for both the kitten and future caregivers

If you've walked this journey before or have helpful resources to share, we'd be so grateful to hear from you. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support-this little one is lucky to have such a compassionate community rooting for them. 💛

With gratitude,
Kimberly

hi Kimberly, I posted the other day about a story I can't really share because it's in the process of becoming a book and part of that story is what you are experiencing now. Turned out our little guy has a broken spine just below the shoulder blades. I was determined to put him in a little wheelchair, but I searched high and low and couldn't find any small enough for our tiny little guy so I had the kids in the local STEM program now STEAM design and 3-D print a tiny little wheelie it became a community project.  Our little boy was able to eliminate on his own, so that was not an issue for us. And our little guy will be six in August. He did come in with three siblings who literally supported him and I do think having siblings was part of his success. They're bond is so strong. we kept them together until I think they were about 10 weeks old and then my dog took over as  siblings. It's a sweet story and really pretty remarkable. I wish you the best with your little kitten, Judy.

Hi everyone,

Our rescue, Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue (SOAR), is welcoming a very special little kitten into our care this afternoon-a 3.5 to 4-week-old paraplegic baby. We already have a vet appointment scheduled immediately after pickup with our attending veterinarian to assess the kitten's overall health and begin developing a thorough care plan.

That said, this is our first time caring for a paraplegic kitten, and I'd really appreciate any advice, tips, or resources from those who have experience with mobility-impaired cats-especially at such a young age. We're fully committed to providing the best possible quality of life and long-term support, and we want to make sure we're starting off on the right paw.

Some specific things I'd love guidance on:

• Diapering or expressing needs for a kitten this small

• Hygiene and skin care to prevent sores or infections

• Mobility support or enrichment at this early developmental stage

• Feeding and weight-bearing considerations

• Emotional/mental health tips for both the kitten and future caregivers

If you've walked this journey before or have helpful resources to share, we'd be so grateful to hear from you. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support-this little one is lucky to have such a compassionate community rooting for them. 💛

With gratitude,
Kimberly

Hi everyone,

Our rescue, Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue (SOAR), is welcoming a very special little kitten into our care this afternoon-a 3.5 to 4-week-old paraplegic baby. We already have a vet appointment scheduled immediately after pickup with our attending veterinarian to assess the kitten's overall health and begin developing a thorough care plan.

That said, this is our first time caring for a paraplegic kitten, and I'd really appreciate any advice, tips, or resources from those who have experience with mobility-impaired cats-especially at such a young age. We're fully committed to providing the best possible quality of life and long-term support, and we want to make sure we're starting off on the right paw.

Some specific things I'd love guidance on:

• Diapering or expressing needs for a kitten this small

• Hygiene and skin care to prevent sores or infections

• Mobility support or enrichment at this early developmental stage

• Feeding and weight-bearing considerations

• Emotional/mental health tips for both the kitten and future caregivers

If you've walked this journey before or have helpful resources to share, we'd be so grateful to hear from you. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support-this little one is lucky to have such a compassionate community rooting for them. 💛

With gratitude,
Kimberly

Hi Kimberly,
You're doing such a wonderful thing for this little one. For expressing, you'll likely need to help stimulate urination and defecation several times a day at this age, your vet can show you how. Keep the skin very clean and dry to prevent sores (unscented baby wipes help), and monitor closely for any signs of redness or irritation. Gentle, short tummy time sessions on a soft surface can encourage mobility and muscle use. Wishing you and your kitten all the best!

Hi everyone,

Our rescue, Sierra Overlook Animal Rescue (SOAR), is welcoming a very special little kitten into our care this afternoon-a 3.5 to 4-week-old paraplegic baby. We already have a vet appointment scheduled immediately after pickup with our attending veterinarian to assess the kitten's overall health and begin developing a thorough care plan.

That said, this is our first time caring for a paraplegic kitten, and I'd really appreciate any advice, tips, or resources from those who have experience with mobility-impaired cats-especially at such a young age. We're fully committed to providing the best possible quality of life and long-term support, and we want to make sure we're starting off on the right paw.

Some specific things I'd love guidance on:

• Diapering or expressing needs for a kitten this small

• Hygiene and skin care to prevent sores or infections

• Mobility support or enrichment at this early developmental stage

• Feeding and weight-bearing considerations

• Emotional/mental health tips for both the kitten and future caregivers

If you've walked this journey before or have helpful resources to share, we'd be so grateful to hear from you. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support-this little one is lucky to have such a compassionate community rooting for them. 💛

With gratitude,
Kimberly