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Kitten Born on the Street with One Eye and Heart Condition Gets New Life and a Forever Home
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With a hole in her heart and almost entirely blind, Bug the Kitten wandered the streets all alone for weeks.
From its very outset, life wasn't kind to her. Yet this brave little kitty was determined to survive against all odds!
Her story began when a woman spotted a little black and white kitten in her driveway. The poor thing ran towards her meowing for help.
She soon noticed that the little kitten had one eye missing and possibly other issues, so she contacted the Liberation Cat House in Orlando for help.
Ashley, a foster mom and director of the organization, decided to take Bug under her wing and was immediately smitten by Bug’s unique charm.
Likewise, Bug was really taken with Ashley and soon settled into her new surroundings..
“Bug is very active, energetic, and spunky!" Shared Ashley with We Love Cats and Kittens.
"She has a big personality for a little kitten and is very curious.”
After a trip to the vet they discovered that Bug was born with several conditions affecting her heart, sight, and breathing.
She only had one nostril, a cleft lip, and one of her eyes was open but not fully developed, with an early stage of cataract.
On her closed eye, the eyelid didn’t develop properly, so Bug couldn't open it at all.
But that wasn't all for little Bug. She was diagnosed with yet another congenital issue - a restrictive ventricular septal defect.
“There is a hole in the wall of her heart that separates her left and right ventricles," explains Ashley. "This causes blood to be shunted from the left side to the right when normally this would not happen."
The vets treated her as best they could but there was no way to fix her main eye and heart conditions so she has to live with them.
"For the time being, the cardiologist is not recommending medication, but she could need medication in months or years - there’s simply no way to know exactly how it will play out."
Thankfully Bug is totally unaware of all this, so she doesn't let her condition limit her.
It's amazing that she'd managed to survive on the streets for as long as she did.
But her spirit is strong and little Bug doesn't let anything get her down!
How much she does see is still a question, but she’s unstoppable when playing with cat toys, climbing cat trees, or pouncing on imaginary bugs!
“She loves to chase toys, or even things that aren’t toys. One time she stole a piece of paper from my desk and played with that,” says Ashley.
"She can get pretty much anywhere she needs to go — she climbs, jumps, and runs all around despite her very limited vision."
At first she would run into things, but since she learned her way around this rarely happens.
Ashley believes the best part about Bug is she isn’t aware of any limitations.
She was born this way so the life she leads is normal to her.
"She doesn’t let anything hold her back and she continues to live her best life," explains Ashley.
"She may not live as long as some cats due to her heart condition, but I know Bug’s life will be full, no matter how long she has."
This cuddly, fearless, and one of the most spirited kittens her foster mom has ever met easily won everyone's hearts. And soon enough, Bug found a forever home.
Her forever human-to-be lives in Pittsburg and has experience with special needs animals and is committed to providing Bug with the best care possible.
And there is a veterinary cardiology practice in Pittsburg that will continue to monitor Bug's heart.
Best of all, she has a lot of furry siblings, including a 6-month-old kitten who has become Bug's new playmate!
Bug may have a hole in her heart. But her heart remains big enough to embrace life, with all its thrills and joys!
Watch the video to see Bug in action:
You can find Bug on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/much_love_for_bug/
And the Shelter that saved her is here: https://www.instagram.com/liberationcathouse/
Ashley, her fabulous foster mom is here: https://www.instagram.com/foster.love.repeat/
Related story: Rescue Kitty With 4 Ears And One Eye Escapes Misery After Finding His Forever Home
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