Grandpa may seem like an unusual choice for a newborn cat, but Stephanie Medrano knew it was the ideal name the moment she saw her foster.
The small white kitten’s scrunched-up face gave him a perpetually troubled expression, making him appear much older than his hours-old body.
The Dodo quoted Medrano as saying, “When I foster kittens, I try to give them amusing names like Turtle or Starfish, but when Grandpa was delivered to me, it was the first name I thought of when I saw his small face.” I didn’t realize it would be that popular and how well it would fit his personality.
Since the day Grandpa was born, Medrano has been striving to ensure that the unique little kitty thrives. “My pal called and asked for assistance. The kitten had a cleft palate and his rear legs were twisted backward, according to Medrano. “The owners took him to the doctor, who advised them to think about euthanasia because his prognosis was poor.
With the help of Stray Cat Alliance, Medrano brought the tiny kitten home and started him on a program of tube feedings every two hours and stretches for his twisted back legs.
“This happens when the tendon is short so it pulls the leg backward instead of forward,” Medrano explained. “I stretch and massage his legs forward multiple times a day … When he is older, if there is more improvement to be made, he will see a specialist for this.”
Grandpa will require surgery to repair his cleft palate when he is strong enough so he can eat regularly. However, the small cat is currently only trying to build up his energy, which calls for several extended sleeps.
“Grandpa, or Gramps as I call him, sometimes is a sleeper. He’s still a baby so that’s normal, but he can go into a deep sleep,” Medrano said. “When he was smaller, I would pick him up and his body would be limp because he wouldn’t wake up right away.”
Grandpa is a warrior and gets stronger every day despite his little size, according to Medrano. He’s a sweet little boy who enjoys spending time with his foster mother.
Generally speaking, he moves slowly and gently, according to Medrano. He will just stand up and ponder the universe. He likes to have a toothbrush rubbed through his fur.
The little joys are what matter to Grandpa.
