A cat with stubby front paws hopped his way into the hearts of so many after life on the streets.
Grace Choi, a board member of Boomers Buddies Rescue in Los Angeles, came across a video of a shelter cat with a congenital defect.
The cat named Joey was desperately trying to hide his face in the corner of the kennel, and so scared that he froze in fear. "We just knew we had to help him. The next day I went to the shelter to pick him up," Grace shared with Love Meow.
She was informed that the cat was feral and that he would never be able to be an indoor cat. "When I brought him home, he showed no signs of aggression. He just seemed terrified."
Grace could tell that behind those fearful eyes, there was a beautiful soul eager to be loved. "I sat with him for about 30 minutes to an hour to show him that he was safe."
When Grace was able to approach him and lightly touch the top of his head, he was initially startled but soon overcome with the comfort it bestowed him. Despite being very timid, he mustered the courage to reach up for more pets.
Suddenly, he rolled over on his side for belly rubs and started rumbling with his adorable purrs. He even summersaulted to get his back scratched.
"From that moment forward he has been the biggest cuddle bug. All he wants is pets all day. I think Joey quickly realized he was in a safe place and opened up to all the love."
Joey was born with a congenital condition where his two front legs never fully formed. He can't use them to walk, so he hops and wobbles around like a Kangaroo.
Life wasn't kind to Joey while he was trying to survive the outdoors. He came to the rescue with a host of health issues. "There were quite a few obstacles we had to overcome to get him healthy and socialized," Grace shared with Love Meow.
"It took about three weeks to fully heal Joey's mange. He was also completely unfamiliar with the litter box, so that took about a couple of weeks to train. Just getting him used to a home environment was a process."
Grace was determined to get the deserving feline the best life and help him adjust to being an indoor cat. "At first, he didn't have much of a personality. He wouldn't really move. He just wanted to be pet all day," Grace said.
As time went by, Joey came out of his shell and his true personalty emerged. When Joey saw a scratcher for the first time, he immediately put it to good use and gave his single front claw the best manicure.
"As it turns out, he is one of the quirkiest cats I've ever met! Joey never fails to crack me up. He is so playful."
Watch Joey and his journey in this video:
It was then they knew that the kangaroo kitty was ready to meet other furry friends in the house, including their resident cat Kitty Boy.
It took Kitty Boy a few days to grow on Joey, but when he got the seal of approval, he started showing Joey how to be a proper cat. He would climb the cat tree and encourage Joey to do the same.
Grace never knew how mobile Joey truly was until the two feline friends started playing and roughhousing.
Recently, Joey discovered his ability to leap incredible distances, with his powerful back paws. He continues to surprise his foster family of what he can do and make great strides with the help of his buddy Kitty Boy.
"Joey is the most loving cat I have ever met. He shows me how grateful he is every single day. The second you get near him, he begins to purr, and he is so ready to soak in all the love he can get."
The former street cat is finally ready for his next chapter in life — a forever loving home. Grace hopes to find a special family with a quiet home that will accommodate for Joey's needs, so he always can be the center of attention.
"Joey is a special cat who requires a lot of attention so that he can feel safe and live comfortably. With my three current pets, and my dedication to continue fostering, a cat like Joey deserves way more attention than I can provide," Grace added.
"My goal from the beginning has always been to rehabilitate him. I can't believe that in just two short months we achieved that. We cured his mange, successfully litter box trained him, socialized him with cats and dogs, and showed him that he can trust humans."
Grace will continue to shower him with love till they find the perfect home for the sweet kangaroo kitty.
Joey's journey has captured the hearts of so many who watched him blossom into a beautiful, happy, healthy cat.
"He is so resilient and I am so excited for him to find his forever home where he will get all the care and love he deserves for the rest of his life!"
Share this story with your friends. Follow updates on Joey and Grace's fosters on Facebook and Instagram @kittyboyandfriends. If you are interested in adopting Joey (in Southern California), click here for more info.
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