These Two Sibling Kittens Are Quite Different From Other Cats, But They Are Living Their Life To The Fullest After Being Rescued
Interview
Otter and his sister, Bunny, were discovered orphaned in Northern California by a kind-hearted woman who took them in and began caring for them.
Caroline Grace, the head of Baby Kitten Rescue, began treating them since they had many health risks. After they were healed, the focus shifted to their disabilities and assistance to their adaptation. Caroline will help them find a permanent home where they will live together.
Caroline Grace found Bunny & Otter orphaned and took them in
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Bored Panda has contacted Caroline Grace to get an update about these two adorable kittens. We asked about the situation they were in when they arrived in the care of the Baby Kitten Rescue, and Caroline explained that “Bunny & Otter were only 3 weeks old and very sick when they arrived. They had upper respiratory infections, infected eyes, and horrible stomach issues.”
The kittens waited outside for mama cat to return, but sadly she never did, and they were left unhealthy and vulnerable
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She reached out to Baby Kitten Rescue once she noticed the kittens were missing limbs and needed bottle feeding
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This is big brother Otter
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Otter was born with an underdeveloped front arm. We asked Caroline if he walks on all 4, and she explained that “Otter walks on 3 legs. His front right arm only has 1 toe and 1 claw, so it’s not very stable. So he doesn’t use that arm when he walks.”
Image credits: babykittenrescue
He was born with an especially rare congenital defect called ‘Meningoencephalocele’
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His skull never closed properly, leaving part of his brain protruding out of the hole in his skull
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Image credits: babykittenrescue
For his own safety, he wears a custom-made helmet to protect his brain
Image credits: babykittenrescue
This kitten is so used to wearing it now, he doesn’t try to scratch at it or pull it off
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Otter is an adventurer and enjoys exploring new places
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He loves to play, snuggle and relax, purring whenever possible
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Little Otter just had cutting-edge brain surgery to place his brain back into his skull and cover the opening with titanium mesh
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Bored Panda asked the director about Otter’s surgery, and Caroline was very happy to let us know that “Otter’s surgery went better than we could have hoped! He had surgery to place his exposed brain back into his skull and to cover the hole in his skull with titanium mesh. There were no complications with his surgery.”
He’s doing very well, enthusiastically taking care of his sister
Image credits: babykittenrescue
To find out if Otter would still need to wear the helmet, we asked Caroline, and she told us that “Otter had to continue to wear his helmet for 2 weeks after the surgery to protect the incision. But now he no longer needs the helmet and will never have to wear it again.”
Meet Bunny
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Bunny was born with congenital bilateral hemimelia, meaning she was born missing both of her forearms
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Image credits: babykittenrescue
The kitty has successfully adapted to her circumstances by moving on her back legs
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Bored Panda asked about the process of Bunny learning to walk on her rear legs. Caroline said, “Bunny started experimenting with standing on her hind legs around 4 weeks old. I caught the first time she stood up on video!! I was so impressed! Slowly she gained strength and balance, and now she mainly walks and gets around using her back legs only.”
Her disability even taught Otter how to stand on his rear feet too
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Bored panda asked Caroline how long it took for Otter to walk on his rear legs, and she answered by saying: “He started standing up on his hind legs shortly after Bunny did. I think he learned from her. Now he stands on his hind legs every day, and it’s just normal for him and Bunny!”
There are several ramps dedicated for Bunny to get up onto the bed and couch, yet she jumps straight from the ground onto the bed or the couch
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Seems like she is living her best life with so much joy and confidence every day
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It has been incredible for Caroline Grace to see Bunny & Otter adapt to their disabilities so well
Image credits: babykittenrescue
After seeing these two little kittens with disabilities, we were keen to know if Bunny and Otter’s abnormalities were common. Caroline said that “Bunny & Otter’s disabilities are very rare. Their congenital abnormalities are most likely the result of siblings breeding with each other. But we will never know for sure since they were found outdoors and we never located their mom.”
Both Otter and Bunny love each other so much and are a bonded pair
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Baby Kitten Rescue works with disabled kittens, making sure they are rightly taken care of. Caroline talked with Bored Panda about the organization itself: “At Baby Kitten Rescue, we specialize in caring for kittens with disabilities. I care for multiple kittens with disabilities every year. And now we have multiple fosters who are also willing and able to care for special needs kittens! So we hope to care for even more special needs kittens in 2023.”
They snuggle together, groom each other, bird watch, and play together
Image credits: babykittenrescue
They are such an inspiration for how resilient, adaptable, and happy they are
Image credits: babykittenrescue
We asked about the process of adoption in Baby Kitten Rescue, and the director explained the criteria. “Adopters must agree to never declaw their cats, never allow the cats to be free-roaming outdoor cats, agree to take the cats to the vet for yearly checkups and whenever needed, to return the cats to Baby Kitten Rescue if they are ever unable to care for them.”
It makes Caroline’s heart burst with cheer and restores her faith in humanity to see people so in love with these two kittens with special needs
Image credits: babykittenrescue
Carolina promised to make sure that they are adopted together as a pair. She is very grateful for having the experience of foster parenting these 2 guys, saying: “They are so incredibly special to me and always will be.”
Caroline Grace talks about the adoption of these sibling kittens: “We have not started accepting adoption applications for Bunny & Otter yet. There is still a 2-3 month monitoring period after Otter’s surgery to make sure no complications arise. Once he is past this monitoring period and has no issues, we will start accepting applications for Otter & Bunny to be adopted together as a bonded pair.” Future adopters of Bunny and Otter should be open about “Adapting their home to be accessible for Bunny & Otter, so having ramps to the couch and bed and low-sided litter boxes that are easy for them to use.”
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I dont know how this couldnt make someone cry. This is so sweet 🥹
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It's so adorable to watch them play on IG! Really melts my heart, so nice to see Otter is doing so well after his surgery!
I've been following these cuties for a while now on Instagram :D Otter underwent brain surgery 2 weeks ago, so now he does not require the helmet anymore and his scar is almost healing now. Such a strong boy! :D
Yay for him not having to wear the helmet anymore! It was adorable though!
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What little sweeties. I first saw these two on Instagram and am glad to see that they are doing so much better. Thank you for rescuing them and giving them a loving and happy life.
I saw Otter’s story on Love Meow a while back! It’s a great site to get one’s “heartwarming cat story” fix XD
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They are smart kitties and learned how to stand up all by themselves.
Oh my heart hurts looking at these little cherubs, what a fabulous foster mother she is, praying they find a furever home soon <3
Oh how I love Otter and Bunny!!!!! I think I follow them on every social media platform LOL. They are just too precious. And they have had so many people to inquire about adopting them.
It is obvious that the mother cat deserted them for being vulnerable. I m so hapy got help💝
Seeing Bunny and Otter waddling around like penguins would make my day
Même si elle fini bien, je trouve cela déchirant. La nature est parfois si injuste pour laisser des êtres vivants naitre avec de telles pathologies. Néanmoins, heureusement qu'il existe des personnes au grand cœur, qui sont au bon endroit, au bon moment pour sauver ces petits êtres plein de résilience et combatifs. Je trouve cette histoire magnifique et tire mon chapeau à Caroline pour qui cela n'a pas dû être évident tous les jours. Beaucoup d'inquiétude et d'angoisse, qui sont heureusement derrière elle aujourd'hui, ils peuvent couler des jours heureux tous les trois et c'est la beauté de cette histoire. Bravo à eux ! 💕
I love his little helmet he looks só cute with it, they are both gorgeous but the those big eyes that furry face with the little helmet i dunno i just love it.
Does anyone know what causes such congenital defects in cats? Is it random mutations, or was the mother malnourished, or was it something else? They are adorable, but it breaks my heart thinking of other kittens elsewhere born with similar conditions, and inevitably, in some cases, what nightmares their lives ended up being. There are some truly awful people out there who I wouldn't want with a mile of vulnerable babies like these.
I imagine some are de novo (new) mutations, others are the result of preexisting ones. I know that in humans spina bifida can be because of low maternal folic acid stores which is why women should make sure to increase dietary folic acid before they try to conceive. That’s not to say Otto’s issue is the same- it’s not but might be similar. Could it be environmental toxins? Possibly. Someone could Google it but don’t expect a lot from "patient" type websites. (I know how long I might spend if I do it.) Moms do abandon kittens so it’s actually probably hard to know how often some mutations or malformations occur when they give birth out of sight. It could be more likely they abandon them at birth than nurse them so they die young. Cold comfort, I know but at least they wouldn’t be at risk from terrible people.
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I dont know how this couldnt make someone cry. This is so sweet 🥹
Load More Replies... It's so adorable to watch them play on IG! Really melts my heart, so nice to see Otter is doing so well after his surgery!
I've been following these cuties for a while now on Instagram :D Otter underwent brain surgery 2 weeks ago, so now he does not require the helmet anymore and his scar is almost healing now. Such a strong boy! :D
Yay for him not having to wear the helmet anymore! It was adorable though!
Load More Replies... What little sweeties. I first saw these two on Instagram and am glad to see that they are doing so much better. Thank you for rescuing them and giving them a loving and happy life.
I saw Otter’s story on Love Meow a while back! It’s a great site to get one’s “heartwarming cat story” fix XD
Load More Replies... They are smart kitties and learned how to stand up all by themselves.
Oh my heart hurts looking at these little cherubs, what a fabulous foster mother she is, praying they find a furever home soon <3
Oh how I love Otter and Bunny!!!!! I think I follow them on every social media platform LOL. They are just too precious. And they have had so many people to inquire about adopting them.
It is obvious that the mother cat deserted them for being vulnerable. I m so hapy got help💝
Seeing Bunny and Otter waddling around like penguins would make my day
Même si elle fini bien, je trouve cela déchirant. La nature est parfois si injuste pour laisser des êtres vivants naitre avec de telles pathologies. Néanmoins, heureusement qu'il existe des personnes au grand cœur, qui sont au bon endroit, au bon moment pour sauver ces petits êtres plein de résilience et combatifs. Je trouve cette histoire magnifique et tire mon chapeau à Caroline pour qui cela n'a pas dû être évident tous les jours. Beaucoup d'inquiétude et d'angoisse, qui sont heureusement derrière elle aujourd'hui, ils peuvent couler des jours heureux tous les trois et c'est la beauté de cette histoire. Bravo à eux ! 💕
I love his little helmet he looks só cute with it, they are both gorgeous but the those big eyes that furry face with the little helmet i dunno i just love it.
Does anyone know what causes such congenital defects in cats? Is it random mutations, or was the mother malnourished, or was it something else? They are adorable, but it breaks my heart thinking of other kittens elsewhere born with similar conditions, and inevitably, in some cases, what nightmares their lives ended up being. There are some truly awful people out there who I wouldn't want with a mile of vulnerable babies like these.
I imagine some are de novo (new) mutations, others are the result of preexisting ones. I know that in humans spina bifida can be because of low maternal folic acid stores which is why women should make sure to increase dietary folic acid before they try to conceive. That’s not to say Otto’s issue is the same- it’s not but might be similar. Could it be environmental toxins? Possibly. Someone could Google it but don’t expect a lot from "patient" type websites. (I know how long I might spend if I do it.) Moms do abandon kittens so it’s actually probably hard to know how often some mutations or malformations occur when they give birth out of sight. It could be more likely they abandon them at birth than nurse them so they die young. Cold comfort, I know but at least they wouldn’t be at risk from terrible people.
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