Even the most hopeless cases deserve a second chance at life, as a couple from Tampa, Florida, learned when they discovered an unexpected guest in their garage.
Joshua Hiebert was busy cleaning up the garden when he spotted something unusual on their driveway. It appeared to be a ball of fur, huddled against the garage door in the blazing sun. Curious, Hiebert approached the fuzzy lump and quickly realized what it was.
It was a tiny orange kitten, just a few weeks old, sitting directly under the scorching sun on the hot concrete. The heat was unbearable. “He was in the sun on the concrete,” Hiebert shared with The Dodo. “And it was, like, 90 degrees outside.” If that temperature was tough on humans, imagine the struggle for a fragile kitten.
Hiebert knew he had to act. He scanned the area to see if the kitten’s mother was nearby. After making sure it was alone, he took a video of the kitten and sent it to his husband, Jose Tortolero. This wasn’t the first time Hiebert had come across strays. He often encountered cats wandering around their neighborhood and did what he could to help, providing food and water whenever possible.
The little kitten, weak and wobbly, slowly shuffled its way into the garage and settled in a cool, shady corner. Hiebert could see that it was barely clinging to life. The kitten was so frail that it didn’t even react to their movements. Hoping it was simply dehydrated, they gave it a bowl of water.
The tiny kitten, desperate for a drink, dipped its paw into the water and pressed it down to the bottom of the bowl. It seemed as if the kitten was trying to figure out how deep the water was. Then it struck them – the kitten was using its sense of touch because it was blind. Realizing this, they knew they couldn’t just leave it alone.
They hurried to a pet store to gather supplies and brought the kitten to the veterinarian for proper care. They decided to name him Whiskers. The vet provided much-needed medication, including eye drops, lubricants, and antibiotics. With each passing day, Whiskers grew stronger. Although he remained blind, it didn’t stop him from exploring the world around him. The couple suspected that he might be able to see blurred shapes, as he appeared to interact with his surroundings.
A tiny kitten was dyed pink, then bathed in Windex and rubbing alcohol, causing hypothermia and shock. This disturbing case highlights a trend where acts of animal cruelty may intersect with untreated mental health issues. Demand authorities implement mandatory mental health counseling for individuals convicted of animal abuse.
Hiebert and Tortolero regularly shared updates about their pets on social media. In one video, a fully grown Whiskers could be seen stealing a leaf of lettuce and leaping onto his scratch post. Despite his blindness, he tackled this feat with surprising ease, demonstrating his remarkable sense of depth and coordination.
Whiskers’ journey proves that no matter how bleak a situation might appear, a nurturing environment filled with love and kindness can help anyone thrive. Thanks to this compassionate couple, Whiskers found a new lease on life, reminding us all of the incredible power of care and compassion.
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@mr.gardeners Good Vibes only for Whiskers, please #kitten #rescue #blindkitten #fingerscrossed #whiskers ♬ Calm LoFi song(882353) – S_R