When I came across Cricket’s Instagram I was immediately obsessed. I had the absolute privilege of talking to this beautiful boy’s awesome mom, Megan. Cricket was born without an eye, has a crooked jaw, and cleft lip, but that doesn’t stop him from being a playful ball of energy, and a great companion. I am so excited to present to you, this month’s Special Kitty, Cricket!
A Close Call
Since Cricket was born with a few abnormalities, the breeder claimed she was going to kill him because he wasn’t “going to sell.” Since the breeder was breeding cats completely unethically, she didn’t want anyone to know some of them had genetic issues, so her solution was to just get rid of the “problem.” Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon fate for special needs cats, which is why adoption is critical.
Megan tells us, “She never specified how she was going to kill the kitten that she had bred into existence, only that she would do it soon. The next day my mother’s coworker told my mom about the kitten; knowing both my mom and I are animal lovers and care for lots of animals. My mom’s coworker explained the kitten’s situation and that the breeder said she would give the kitten away for free if she found someone to take the kitten in the next two days. So, obviously we knew we had to take this kitten home.”
Unethical breeding practices are just one of the many reasons why it is so important to choose adoption. Excessive breeding in particular is common in cats and dogs and can usually lead to deformities or disabilities, which is also why it’s so important to heavily research local breeders as well if you’re going down that path. Unethical breeding also lends itself to the issue of overpopulation, a problem that plagues shelters across the world. Roughly half of the animals that enter shelters, many of them healthy, young, and adoptable—end up euthanized due to overcrowding at shelters. Megan says she fell in love the second she saw Cricket.
Life in His Forever Home
In regard to what it’s like raising a kitty with some special needs, Megan told us, “Cricket isn’t a whole lot of work! He requires his diet to be mostly soft food due to the cleft lip and crooked jaw. When he eats, the food tends to fall out of his mouth and it takes him longer than the average cat to eat a meal. His diet is soft food with nuggets as a treat (Greenies Catnip Dental treats are his favorite).”
Cricket is absolutely thriving right now. Not only does he get to explore a nice big home with lots of nap spots but most importantly, he’s happy and healthy. He also never stops talking. Megan tells us that when he is hungry or wants to play, he is sure to let the house know. She tells us that when he does his attention chirps and other noises, it sometimes sounds like he’s playing the banjo, which sounds absolutely hilarious. When Cricket takes a break from his busy nap and play schedule, he’s also a social media star. Although the Toy Poodle of the house isn’t 100% sure about him, Cricket loves all of his furry pals. What’s it like living with Cricket?
Megan tells us, “Some of the noises he makes, sounds like he is playing the banjo! He naps the days away but has tons of energy as well. He loves to sneak attack me any chance he gets, too. His one eye does not slow him down. He also plays hide and seek with me, which is also my favorite. He is the best little cat and has changed my life for the better! He is also a picky eater and needs a different flavor of soft food at every meal. He is the shape of a pear, when he is sitting, so one of his nicknames is ‘pear.’”
Cricket’s Hero
Cricket’s mom Megan is a rock star. When we spoke, she told us that she was in her last semester of nursing school and has a job lined up at the birth center of her local hospital. Megan tells us animals have always been a huge part of her life.
“I am very involved with all of the shelters and rescues in my local area. I have two dogs, two cats, and chickens! I am a vegan and try to spread the message that all animals are worth our love and compassion. I advocate for adoption because I don’t see any other options. The shelters and rescues are full and overcrowded. The streets have dogs and cats fighting for their lives. If you rescue a cat or dog, you not only save their life but also the animal that takes their place.”
Megan draws on a good point that we often forget when we adopt animals from shelters – by adopting, we’re making room for more homeless animals to enter the shelter. According to dosomething.org, around 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.4 million are cats.
Adopt Don’t Shop
We as well as Megan always urge people to choose adoption, we also think it is so important not to neglect special needs kitties. “I think a big misconception people have is that special needs kitties are going to be a lot of work,” Megan tells us, “more work than a ‘normal’ cat. But they really aren’t! I buy Cricket soft food so it’s easier for him, but he does fine with small nuggets! He is just like any cat and no extra work at all. They look at these cats and think they won’t have the time or patience to deal with the special needs but if you let them into your heart, they are worth any effort. Of course some special needs kitties will be more hands on, such as an incontinent kitty or a paralyzed kitty but those animals have extra love to give and are worth saving.”
Again, if you’re looking for a furry forever friend, please consider adoption. Finally, Megan wrapped it up with this: “I would encourage people who are thinking about adopting to look at the old dogs and cats, the ones with the special needs, the black ones. Maybe these are the animals that have been sitting in the shelter for a long time, but they can make the greatest of companions. Any animal is a potential pet and lifelong friend.”
Talking to Megan about cricket and her passion for animals was truly a pleasure. We hope that this article, as well as the rest in this series, encourages you to choose adoption and ultimately helps you understand the truths about adopting a special needs kitty.
