When a five-month-old kitten named Gelato arrived at an animal shelter in Cincinnati, the shelter staff realized he was going to need some extra care. He had a lower-back injury that left his hind legs paralyzed, so the staff built him a mini wheelchair out of Hot Wheels cars and wooden rulers. The contraption worked — and Gelato was able to get around.
Since then, Gelato was given a more stable and traditional wheelchair, which allowed everyone involved with Gelato to help him regain his strength with regular therapy.
And on Monday, Gelato’s life got even better as he found a forever home. Hope Hollandsworth, who already owns two other special-needs cats, officially adopted Gelato. Hope wanted to give her two cats Bread Crumb and Sprinkles — who have use of only their front legs due to injuries — to have “an additional cuddle buddy.”
Gelato will continue therapy with the hope that he will regain use of his back legs. Regardless of his success with the therapy, Gelato will have all the help and support he needs in his new home. As Hope explained, “Either way he’ll be perfect to me.”