Bored Panda reached out to Dasha, Rexie's owner, to learn more about Rexie and his incredible journey, as well as the joys and challenges of caring for a special needs cat. The woman shared that she adopted Rexie from a shelter. "I saw a photo of him as a small kitten posted online and visited the place to meet him in person. He suffered a backbone injury due to a mistreatment that led to an accident and had to be given a chance to live with medical care or put down. I chose the former. Unfortunately, the treatment didn't improve his condition, but during the recovery process, I fell in love with him and couldn't have his life ended.

Despite having a limitation, Rexie was showing no signs of distress. He was a very playful kitten, willing to explore life and live. So we both were on the path of learning: for him, it was to learn how to navigate on two paws, and I had to learn the art of expressing his bladder to help him survive and live a no-problem life."

Rexie will be turning 11 by the end of this year, but he still has the playful spirit of a kitten. According to Dasha, he’s a laid-back cat with a kind, friendly, and curious nature. "He’s playful when he’s in the mood for it, and he’s becoming more affectionate with each passing year."

While sharing life with Rexie is a pure joy, his condition does come with its challenges. "The biggest challenge for me, as a solo caretaker for the paralyzed cat, is the inability to be away from home for more than 8 hours, and the inability to go on trips, for that matter. Rexie cannot use the toilet himself, his bowels and bladder have to be manually expressed a couple of times a day," Dasha shared.

If you're considering adopting a special needs cat, Dasha has some helpful advice: "Finding a competent veterinarian is crucial. You also have to have a lot of patience and love for that pet, as depending on the severity of a handicap, it might be mentally exhausting to take care of them in the long term."