A kitten who was hit by a car and left to die on the road is finally living his best life after having two of his legs amputated.
The cat, named Wheels, was found unmoving on the road on January 2, before being taken to the SPCA of Brevard Adoption Center in Titusville, Florida. He was brought in inside a shoebox and it was clear that he had no power or movement in his hind legs.
Briana De Los Santos, 24, who works at the shelter, told Newsweek that she felt devastated seeing Wheels “so broken at such a young age.” But despite what he’d gone through, there was no denying his resilience.
An assessment revealed that 3-month-old Wheels was paraplegic due to a significant injury to his legs. He also had an abdominal hernia and a collapsed lung.
@thisis4wheels / TikTok
“While it wasn’t clear what his future might hold, Wheels was still purring and making biscuits. He wanted to live, and that gave us hope,” Santos said.
In the days that followed, Wheels was monitored closely, and he also had surgery to repair his hernia.
There was no way of knowing what his recovery would entail, but Santos knew she wanted to help. It wasn’t an easy decision because she already has four cats, and Wheels would certainly have a lot of needs. Nevertheless, Santos couldn’t bear the thought of him missing out on “his best chance” at life.
She said: “It wasn’t that we lacked experience in caring for injured animals, but his future was so uncertain. We had no idea how dependent he would become, or if he would ever fully recover. Taking him in meant committing to his care for the rest of his life—hopefully a long one—no matter what challenges lay ahead.”
Over time, Wheels recovered from surgery, and he even learned how to control his bladder. But even with all the progress he made, he still couldn’t move his back legs. He did physical therapy, stretching exercises, and took pain medication, yet there was minimal change.
Eventually, the vet suggested amputating one of his back legs in the hopes that it might give Wheels some quality of life. Santos gave it some thought and agreed it was the best decision.
Wheels had his first amputation surgery on January 22 and Santos noticed how much more “energetic and playful” he became. She was so glad to give him a happier life, but it soon became apparent that his other back leg was causing him pain.
Given how much Wheels improved following the amputation, Santos consulted with the vet about going through with the second one. The other paralyzed leg was troubling Wheels and hindering him, so it was amputated on February 25.
“After his first amputation, we could sense some relief, but his mobility was still limited. However, after the second amputation, the kitten inside him truly came to life. The change was almost immediate, and he was much more comfortable,” Santos said.
“He’s more playful, energetic, and incredibly fast. He climbs, runs, and leaps down from high places with ease. He loves chasing toys, his brothers, and soaking up the sun,” she added.
@thisis4wheels / TikTok
Santos has documented Wheels’ story on TikTok (@thisis4wheels) to show the strength and resilience of animals who are differently abled. Many of the videos have gone viral, and the post detailing his story has amassed over 87,100 views and 9,800 likes at the time of writing.
She hopes to show that animals like Wheels are equally as deserving of love and attention, and they shouldn’t be overlooked in shelters.
“Wheels has shown that animals with disabilities can still live full, happy lives,” Santos said. “They might need a little extra help, but that doesn’t mean they can’t thrive. Animals are incredibly resilient, and no matter the challenge, they can find ways to live their best lives.
“I want to help educate people about the reality of differently abled animals. The instinct is to assume that a disabled animal must be euthanized, but the truth is, animals are incredibly resilient. Just because they’re missing a limb doesn’t mean they can’t lead a full life,” Santos told Newsweek.
Hundreds of social media users have commented on TikTok to applaud Wheels and praise Santos for giving him a second chance at life.
One comment reads: “Thank you for doing what’s best for him and not giving up on him.”
Another person wrote: “omg I love him, he is absolutely precious.”
Another TikTok user added: “he probably feels [so much] better not having to carry the weight of the legs too.”
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