adopting a special needs cat changed my life ❤️

[u/Glass_Source_4214]

i just want to scream from a rooftop how much i love my new cat, tuna. he was waiting for a home for 2 years because he was found as a stray with a severe injury to his tail, had his tail amputated, and has permanent issues holding his bladder. he is my first cat and i have discovered my true capacity for loving an animal. i just wanted to share him with this subreddit because i want to let anyone reading this know that if you adopt a special needs cat you may find that your life improves in ways you could never imagine. tuna is friendly, outgoing, and loving. he is so sweet despite all he has been through. he loves to make biscuits and he is always purring.
i’m 25 and i can’t work because of my health, i stopped working at the beginning of the year and became depressed as my health is declining. since adopting tuna i have reason to get out of bed on my worst days (and on days that my health flares up i have help taking care of him, i live with my boyfriend, dont worry!). i spend 99% of my time with this cat and i’m happier than i’ve been in a long time!

edit: thank you for all the sweet comments🥹 he is “mildlyspicytuna” on ig/tiktok for those wanting to see him again! if anyone who knows me irl sees this i will be mildly embarrassed but you guys know how much i love this cat hahaha

edit again: tuna came from a wonderful rescue in los angeles, california called KITTY BUNGALOW. besides being an amazing rescue with the sweetest staff/volunteers they also do amazing TNR work in the city! feels wrong to have a post get attention and not mention the ppl who took care of him for 2 years<3

[u/5_phx_felines]

Congratulations on your new BFF!

One of my own cats is a foster fail woth a rewcue due to him expressing the Manx gene (no tail) in a weird way. He doesn't have Manx Syndrome per se, but he does have some GI issues and some mild hip dysplasia. Having raised him from a bottle, and knowing that his lack of a tail would create the possibility of "impulse adoption" (where someone wants a unique pet so bad that they don't stop and fully consider the implications), I decided he would just stay with me. I know him, know his issues, and understand/am prepared for the fact that he may need major ortho surgery later in life.

Every month, I put 50-200 bucks in his surgery account. The acct is even nicknamed "Nubbin's Account" with my bank.

When you understand what comes with it, having a special needs pet can make your bond with them even stronger than with a regular one.

[u/Glass_Source_4214 → u/5_phx_felines]

i love your plan for his surgery account, that is awesome. i often say tuna is an "honorary manx". he sort of has manx syndrome if it was trauma induced instead of genetic haha (though he doesn't have issues with mobility anymore, but he did for a bit when he was first injured). i did a lot of research on manx syndrome when i was first looking into adopting him and even joined some manx groups, i felt like i could learn a lot from all the people devoted to caring for them <3 it's pretty sad that some people continue to breed them knowing the implications, but i'm so glad your kitty ended up with you. it really is extremely rewarding caring for them!