Mimi
We have never met a cat quite as exuberant as Mimi. Everything about this tiny girl radiates joy – and her happy spirit is contagious.
Yet Mimi’s life hasn’t always been so sweet. Mimi spent her early months wandering the grounds of a south Jersey prison. A free-roaming cat’s life is never easy, but Mimi’s challenges were monumental: this little feral was born with a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia (CH).
Kittens can develop CH if their mother is exposed to distemper while the little ones are in her womb. The virus attacks rapidly-multiplying cells, including the brain. As a result, cats with CH are born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor skills. CH is not life-threatening, but it makes navigating life challenging – a real peril for an outdoor cat.
While other feral cats can skillfully navigate their environment, Mimi’s CH left her perpetually unsteady on her feet. If her wobbly walk wasn’t enough of a disadvantage, Mimi suffered from a persistent cough, plus inverted eyelashes that painfully scratched her eye with each blink.
Fortunately, Mimi had one major advantage: she was loved.
With her friendly chirp and irresistibly cute face, little Mimi stole the hearts of staff and inmates at the prison she called home. Mimi’s friends got in touch with Tabby’s Place, and, through a happy series of events, the little wonder became our newest resident. We treated her severe upper respiratory infection and will soon be giving Mimi surgery to correct her eyelid agenesis.
Since moving to the Tabby’s Place lobby, Mimi has been bubbling over with excitement. At under a year old (as of 10/2013), our tiny teenager is making up for lost time in playing – constantly! The only thing Mimi loves as much as playing is snuggling. If you meet her gaze, she’ll chirp with delight; and if you scoop her into your arms, you’ll be rewarded with a purr many times bigger than Mimi’s tiny body.
With such an enchanting personality, we hope our little survivor will find a forever home all her own. But, her CH will make that search a bit more challenging. In addition, Mimi has some ongoing respiratory issues, for which she’ll require follow-up diagnostics.
In the meantime, Mimi would love to share her sweetness with you. Will you please be her sponsor?