We’re back with another addition to our special kitty series. This month we’re featuring a gorgeous girl named Mira. Mira lives with cerebellar hypoplasia and radial hypoplasia, but that doesn’t stop her from living her best life thanks to her wonderful human, Tara. I had the pleasure of finding a little more out about Mira from Tara:
Before Her Forever Home
Mira had a very rough beginning. She originally came to Tara back in 2017 with her mom and sister as a foster, in pretty bad shape.
“All were very sick with respiratory infections. I was asked to bring them home to pass in a home instead of a cage. Mira weighed only 4oz at the time and was 4 weeks old. Her sister passed after a couple days but Mira kept fighting. She was born visibly different with folded front paws and upward turned grin. Because she was so sick she couldn’t feed from her mother and needed to be syringe fed every couple hours for months. She also needed nose cleanings and steam baths to keep her airway clear. After a couple weeks her mother started losing interest in her, so [her mother] was taken back to the SPCA to be adopted (which she was after only 2 days!). As Mira began moving around she was noticeably wobbly. She was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Radial Hypoplasia.”
Because of her conditions, Mira couldn’t walk well but got where she wanted in her own way. She became extremely constipated and ended up prolapsing her rectum (which thankfully mostly healed on its own) and then had months of diarrhea. She eventually overcame that as well.
But miraculously, February 5th of 2018 she was declared healthy enough to be spayed. She was technically still a foster so it was done by the SPCA.
“When I picked her up that afternoon they handed me the adoption papers and told me she was mine forever. She still doesn’t get around very well and has had some health issues. She has chronic respiratory infections, and was diagnosed with asthma as well (which she uses a puffer for daily). Her mouth doesn’t work like most so can’t eat any type of bigger food, sticks mostly to canned and small dry. She can’t eat regular treats either so we use the tube ones which she loves! She truly is a miracle. She wasn’t expected to live a week yet she’ll be 3 in August!”
Mira’s Second Chance
Before Tara even began to care for Mira, she knew she was a fighter as soon as she laid her eyes on the strong kitty.
“I just knew she was a fighter and would survive any obstacle thrown her way. Since I knew she would never give up, I would never give up on her! I truly believe she is my soulmate. She came to me at a time in my life when I was going through a lot of pain, she taught me to never give up.”
Oftentimes a lot of pet owners who adopt their animals come to find that even though their intention was to save the pet, their pet ends up being the one that saves their humans. Mira and Tara seem to be no exception.
Mira is now living the good life with her human and fur siblings.
“She became my baby from day one. She was an instant hit with my dog Paco who became her protector immediately. My other cats don’t have much to do with her as her jerky movements kind of freak them out, but they’ll give her kisses every once in a while so she knows she’s loved by them. We had a routine from day one, feeding schedule, sleeping arrangement (she’s slept in my bed under my arm since the beginning) and play time. I think that’s really helped her.”
It’s important to note that when you adopt a special needs kitty like Mira, there is clearly a lot of work. Strict routines, a lot of constant attention, vet fees, and patience are par for the course for a lot of special needs cat owners. It’s a tough job, so if you’re considering it, make sure that you are able to put in the work to ensure that your kitty is being well taken care of. The point of these features is to bring awareness to these awesome cats, and just what it takes to care for them.
But, this is no problem for Tara. In fact, she has provided Mira with an environment that allows her to fully thrive.
“She LOVES cat beds/caves and tunnels. She can’t play with regular cat toys as she can’t catch them, but sometimes she’ll try! She loves cuddle times, laying on the backyard swing, and playing with her new brother Mickey. He came to us last October, special needs kitty as well and they’re inseparable. She loves food and treats like any other cat. She doesn’t have many dislikes at all.”
When she’s not doing some kitty cave diving, Mira is of course the star of her very own Instagram account.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
One of my favorite parts of these pieces besides getting to learn about some amazing and adorable little critters is learning about the wonderful humans that allow them to live life to the fullest.
Tara is no exception! She does work for her local police department, does some acting on the side, and has been volunteering at her local SPCA in the hospital for around 7 years. All of this while attending to her multiple special needs pets. As the saying goes, not all heroes wear capes. She also began fostering about 4 years ago which she says is the best decision she ever made (we don’t blame her!)
You already know what’s next! We always urge any prospective pet parent to consider adoption when looking for their companion, and of course Tara agrees.
“I am a firm believer and advocate for adoption. There are so many animals out there that need a home, whether abused or discarded, and deserve a chance at life. Why buy a “designer” pet when you can adopt an amazing pet that needs just as much love, and give you more? Also, when one gets adopted it makes room for others to be saved to give them a chance at life too! Fostering is another great way to help make room in the shelters, and gives those animals a loving start. I’m also an advocate for special needs pets. They make look or be different, may take a little extra time and care but their life is just as important as a “normal” one. They give so much back in return for the little things you do.”
She said it best. There are a multitude of reasons why you should adopt your dogs, cats, and whatever other animals that are available for adoption instead of buying designer animals. The shelters will thank you, your furry friends will thank you, and best of all, every single day with your loving animal is your reward.
