An animal shelter volunteer received praise for rescuing a three-week-old kitten that was seemingly rejected by her mother and the litter. The mother cat, Paisley, and her kittens were brought to the shelter, where staff member Kelsey took on the responsibility of feeding them.
Within the litter were tabby kittens Prim and Pru, who displayed signs of a neurological issue affecting their coordination. After Paisley was reunited with her owners post-spaying, the kittens stayed in the shelter and adjusted well to their new environment.
Prim, in addition to the neurological condition, had an eye problem, but she didn’t let it hinder her. Kelsey, mentioning they treated the kittens as if they had cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) due to lack of a formal diagnosis, closely monitored their progress.
Most of the litter, including Prim and Pru, learned to feed themselves within a day of arriving at the shelter. Although Pedro initially struggled, he caught up with his siblings once he adapted to solid food. While Prim and Pru grew stronger, Prim remained smaller than her siblings.
Despite her challenges, Prim displayed resilience and was able to perform activities like her littermates, such as using the litter box, playing, and being energetic. Kelsey noted that Prim, a curious and playful kitten, had taken an interest in a dog named Fletcher at the shelter.
Describing Prim as a determined kitten, Kelsey shared that Prim often sought attention and climbed onto her lap or shoulders, showing her spirited nature. The shelter, located in Indianapolis, US, provided updates on Prim’s progress, mentioning her weight gain and upcoming surgery and neurological examination before adoption.
Prim would require a home with someone ready to care for a visually impaired kitten. Despite her condition, she demonstrated the ability to do most things, and the shelter planned to introduce her to more areas of the house to assess her comfort with different environments.