User submission

Couple Adopted Paralyzed Cat And Their Story Went Viral

Interview With Owner

If adopting is an act of love, taking home an animal with special needs is something that transcends this feeling.

Let us introduce you to Aoife, a two-year-old cat that has stolen the hearts of millions of people. The kitten was spotted on Instagram by two incredible hoomans, Sabrina and James. They immediately fell in love with the animal and decided to bring her into their family. However, Aoife is not a usual cat. She was born with a mangled pelvis and has severe hip dysplasia and a huge curve in her spine near the thoracic area. Due to her spinal deformities, she is also incontinent and has to wear a diaper.

Despite her paralysis, Aoife has a good quality of life and has already become a viral sensation with more than 60k followers on Instagram!

More info: Instagram | youtube.com | purrfectlyaoife.editorx.io

Meet Aoife, a fun and feisty cat living in LA with her 5 kitty siblings and 2 hoomans

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Her owners, Sabrina and James, found the kitten on Instagram when she was around 2 weeks old

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Sabrina and James immediately fell in love with the kitten and decided to adopt her

Couple Adopted Paralyzed Cat And Their Story Went Viral

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Unfortunately, Aoife was born paralyzed and cannot move her back legs

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Aoife’s owners think that the cat was born this way. She has severe hip dysplasia and a huge curve in her spine near the thoracic area

Couple Adopted Paralyzed Cat And Their Story Went Viral

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

She has to wear a diaper and have her bowels expelled manually every day

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

According to Sabrina, Aoife is incontinent due to her spinal deformities, so the family has to perform a manual expression of both her bladder and bowel twice a day. She also takes probiotics, Miralax, Uromaxx, and pumpkin.

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Sabrina and James spent 2 months working with Aoife’s foster mum to learn how to properly take care of the disabled cat

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Despite being different from other cats, Aoife has a good life and has settled in well at home

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Besides Aoife, Sabrina and James have also adopted 5 other cats, Pebbles, Kevin, Sofia, Ellie Mae and Peter.

The owners revealed that Aoife’s favorite activity is eating. “Zoomies are 2nd. Cuddling with mama is 3rd. She’s a bit of a bully at times, but all the cats get along with each other.”

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Sabrina started documenting the cat’s life at home and posting pictures and videos of Aoife online

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

The cat immediately became an internet sensation

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

At the moment, Aoife is followed by more than 60k people on Instagram

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

“Her followers are very vocal about how much they love her story, but it wasn’t until her first reel hit 1 million views that we realized we had a little star,” Sabrina shared.

“She’s stubborn, feisty, fearless and incredibly strong, which makes for hilarious and inspirational videos. We had no idea she would have this much attention though.”

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

“Being Aoife’s mom is an honor and pure joy”

Image credits: purrfectlyaoife

Sabrina told us that watching Aoife thrive despite her disability has made them appreciate their blessings more, taught them to be kinder, and helped them connect with truly wonderful people!

9Kviews

Fascinated by music, movies and sitcoms, I'm passionate about social media and can't live without the internet, especially for all the cute dog and cat pictures out there. I wish the day had about 40 hours to be able to do everything I want.

Read less »

Hi there! I'm Gabrielė, but you can also catch me responding to Gab, Gabi, Gabert, or Gabe – take your pick. Professionally, I'm the senior community manager over at Bored Panda, helping people share their awesome work and connecting artists with a worldwide audience. Beyond work, you'll catch me traveling, listening to vinyl and diving into movies, art exhibitions, and concerts. I'm a culture buff at heart, always eager to explore and embrace the richness of the human experience.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Susan Green 2 years ago

Poor angel. I’m happy she is in such a good, loving home.

11points

Marion Friedl 2 years ago

Oh she´s not poor at all, you should visit her Instagram accound, she gets around well and doesn´t notice she´s different at all, there are some videos of her posted on IG, her humans Sabrina and James take the best of care of her. No need to feel sorry for a cat like Aoife, I´d feel much more sorry if she hadn´t gotten the chance to live at all, if she´d been "put down". But the vet and her foster humans decided to give her a fair chance. A Facebook friend´s cat named Blacky was also paralyzed and passed a few years ago at the age of 14 years, he also lived a happy life, he had a wheelchair that he only used outdoors, indoors he got around like Aoife does at her home, by having developed strong muscles in the front legs to move from A to B.

16points

Load More Replies...

Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Bless her heart xxx

8points

Marion Friedl 2 years ago

From today on cute Aoife has 1 follower more on Youtube and on Instagram (there I can´t post myself without a cellphone, but I can follow, like & comment). 😽😽😽💖💖💖☮️☮️☮️ Aoife´s a lot like angel furriend #BlackyTheWheelchairCat was. He had an own Fakepoop page, not sure if he still does, I do not go to the newsfeed anymore, too old posts shown to me & too many daily newsletters to check.

8points

Lakota Wolf 2 years ago (edited)

My puppy Stilgar had distemper when he was younger... he survived the viral infection but has permanent neurological damage (myoclonus/continuous involuntary twitching), balance issues, and cannot stand for more than a few minutes at a time. He has to wear a male belly wrap and a diaper in his crate at night and often urinates on himself when outside as he can't always get up in time. He is 8 months old and has NO idea he is disabled. He is happy, waggy, playful, loves people, other dogs, cats, his toys, his food, his treats - he loves pretty much everything on the planet. Animals can teach us so many things - in Aoife's case and Stilly's case, they can teach us that "disabled" does not mean "miserable", and they can teach us to be compassionate and empathic towards those with disabilities - NOT to avoid, fear, hate, or pity them :)

2points

Isabelle Goegebuer 2 years ago

Just looking at that adorable little floofy head made me instantly fall in love with this kitty, paralyzed hind legs or not. :))) ❤️

2points

bob dylan 2 years ago

She is amazing

1point

Maria Salazar 2 years ago

That's so great she deserves to having someone loving her and taking care of her we also had an rabbit was the same way we give him life to the fullest

1point

Daycare Attendant Sun 2 years ago

Look, I'm at work, and I'm trying to not cry in front of the other librarians.

0points

Marja Berisa 2 years ago

I will get a million downvotes and I don'e care. This cat is not a cat, it is half a cat and an abomination at that. A cat needs to jump, stalk, climb, run, and do all the things that are natural to a cat. The story does not tell how this thing got into a shelter; in the wild, or even with a domesticated mom cat, this specimen would not have lasted long. Of course, the poor thing does not know any better, but still - it has a very limited quality of life, can't even pee or poo as cats were designed to do, and still - the people "caring" for it are seen as saints? The internet is full of handicapped cats and dogs with paralyzed hindquarters replaced with wheels - not to mention 3-legged pets. C'mon people, that is not how cats and dogs should live. You all think you're being kind and understanding, but you are not. While handicapped people can have a good life - to a point - animals just don't have the capacity to think "mind over matter".

0points

tara 2 years ago

Yayyyy! That cutie wears those little pants well! What a great story, and what great people :)

0points

Benji 2 years ago

I have a senior cat, he's been with me since he's been a kitten. And I have to help him defecate- would I have it any other way? No! People who take care of their fur babies even things aren't easy are good people!

0points

Toujin C'Thlu 2 years ago

I follow this kitty on Instagram. It's amazing to see that her disability hasn't kept her from being a typical cat.

0points

POST

Susan Green 2 years ago

Poor angel. I’m happy she is in such a good, loving home.

11points

Marion Friedl 2 years ago

16points

Load More Replies...

Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Bless her heart xxx

8points

Marion Friedl 2 years ago

8points

Lakota Wolf 2 years ago (edited)

2points

Isabelle Goegebuer 2 years ago

Just looking at that adorable little floofy head made me instantly fall in love with this kitty, paralyzed hind legs or not. :))) ❤️

2points

bob dylan 2 years ago

She is amazing

1point

Maria Salazar 2 years ago

That's so great she deserves to having someone loving her and taking care of her we also had an rabbit was the same way we give him life to the fullest

1point

Daycare Attendant Sun 2 years ago

Look, I'm at work, and I'm trying to not cry in front of the other librarians.

0points

Marja Berisa 2 years ago

0points

tara 2 years ago

Yayyyy! That cutie wears those little pants well! What a great story, and what great people :)

0points

Benji 2 years ago

0points

Toujin C'Thlu 2 years ago

I follow this kitty on Instagram. It's amazing to see that her disability hasn't kept her from being a typical cat.

0points

Couple Adopted Paralyzed Cat And Their Story Went Viral

Meet Aoife, a fun and feisty cat living in LA with her 5 kitty siblings and 2 hoomans

Her owners, Sabrina and James, found the kitten on Instagram when she was around 2 weeks old

Sabrina and James immediately fell in love with the kitten and decided to adopt her

Unfortunately, Aoife was born paralyzed and cannot move her back legs

Aoife’s owners think that the cat was born this way. She has severe hip dysplasia and a huge curve in her spine near the thoracic area

She has to wear a diaper and have her bowels expelled manually every day

Sabrina and James spent 2 months working with Aoife’s foster mum to learn how to properly take care of the disabled cat

Despite being different from other cats, Aoife has a good life and has settled in well at home

Sabrina started documenting the cat’s life at home and posting pictures and videos of Aoife online

The cat immediately became an internet sensation

At the moment, Aoife is followed by more than 60k people on Instagram

“Being Aoife’s mom is an honor and pure joy”

Games

Hidrėlėy

Hidrėlėy

Gabrielė Malukaitė

Gabrielė Malukaitė