A stray kitten couldn't sit up straight or walk until someone brought her home to foster - it turned her life around.
Willow the kitten was four months old when she was brought to the San Jose Care Center, needing rescue. She was found on the streets with a wobbly walk and a head tilt. Amber Rose, founder of Saving Grace Rescue, reached out to the shelter and offered to take her in.
Joyce, a foster volunteer of Saving Grace, picked her up from the facility. The kitty was dirty, very quiet and so weak that she could barely sit up.
"On our drive home, she warmed up to me after some chin and belly rubs. We noticed she didn't try to run and just plopped down wherever we put her because she had no energy," Joyce told Love Meow.
Willow spent most of her first day lying down and didn't want to touch her food bowl. She had to be fed by hand for two days. Joyce continued to shower her with love and offered treats to encourage her to eat.
"She didn't walk much as if her head was too heavy, but on the third day, she got better and wobbled to the food bowl after her morning massage," Joyce said.
They took her to the vet but couldn't get a clear diagnosis at the time. Willow had difficulty sitting up, standing, walking and keeping her head straight.
"The vet didn't know what was wrong with Willow but said she didn't have an upper respiratory infection or ear infection," Joyce said. "We don't know what happened to her before she was found, how she was found, etc.."
Despite her condition, Joyce and her husband were determined to get her back to health.
When their resident cats and another foster kitty came to visit her, sweet Willow was curious and didn't mind new company.
Each day, Willow got a bit stronger and could stand up a little taller.
A week later, she surprised the family when she got up from her bed and started running after a laser. "I was so very happy to see her chasing laser light," Joyce said. "We've been working with her daily to get her stronger."
As she gained more strength in her legs, she began to venture out of her room and even traveled to find her foster parents in their room.
Watch Willow's journey in this adorable video:
The kitten who could barely sit up when she first arrived, has come a long way.
Now, she enjoys exploring around the house and playing with toys. She can walk much more steadily and even run when she plays.
In just eight days in foster care, Willow has made incredible progress.
"Now she comes out of her room to go to our room for love and cuddles," Joyce said.
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