Ahsen from Istanbul, Turkey was at her veterinary clinic when she came across a three-legged kitten. The tabby cat was found with a badly injured leg after a road accident. She was taken to a shelter and then transported to a veterinary clinic for ᴀᴍᴘᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ when they realized that her leg could not be saved.
“I went to see her and she was lying in a cast-legged cage. She tried to grab my hand with her tiny front paw like she didn’t want me to leave,” Ahsen said. “They told me that the kitten will not return to the shelter and will need a home after treatment.”
Ahsen left the clinic that day but couldn’t stop thinking about the kitten. All of her cats at home are rescued and some have special needs.
Ahsen kept thinking about her and couldn’t get her out of his mind. So I decided to go back to see her. If she’s still there, Ahsen will adopt her and do her best to give her the best life she deserves.
A few days later, the kitten is reunited with Ahsen, now she is forever human. First, she buried her face in Ahsen’s hand and growled like a storm. “We named her Ekim, which means October in Turkish,” Ahsen said.
The sweet kitten was so happy to be home and to be hugged by the person it loved. She put her front paw on her human hand and went to sleep right away. “She was very emotional and happy from the start.” Ahsen stays with the kitten throughout the day, making sure she is loved. “She would cry if she was alone, so I wrapped her like a burrito with a blanket and it made her feel safe.”
Ekim continued to heal and was loved by everyone in the family. She likes to be cuddled all the time and will hold Ahsen’s hand when she sleeps at night. As the kitten got stronger and stronger, it learned to walk on three legs. Although still in a cast, Ekim doesn’t let anything stop him, and insists on doing everything any four-legged cat would do. “She toured around the house on her own for the first time and even used the toilet tray herself.”
After her cast was removed, Ekim was so excited that she ran around the house as if she owned it. She slid into a soft bed and lay on her back, feeling the fabric with her undressed body. Ekim is very outgoing and extremely playful. She can run faster than other kittens on all fours, climb and jump like a pro.
“All the other resident cats treat her like their own, especially the paralyzed cat Hayko. They always hang out together,” Ahsen said.
The three-legged cat has really bonded with Hayko, who is paralyzed from the waist down. With her encouragement, Hayko became more energetic and playful than ever. The two share great chemistry as if they understood each other.
It’s been over two months since Ekim found her forever at home. She has grown into a happy, healthy, energetic tabby and has a large family that loves her dearly. Having three legs doesn’t slow her down a bit.
“She’s my little one-winged angel, the cutest cat I’ve ever seen in my life.”