During the sweltering summer in Fort Worth, Texas, most residents found refuge indoors, escaping the relentless heat. When homeowner Meredith Bammel was awakened by a slew of cries from her yard, she was quite surprised. Curious and concerned, Bammel rushed outside and was taken aback by the sight before her. “Our friend woke up to this in her yard,” shared Laura Grice, director of Saving Hope Rescue (SHR), with The Dodo. “There was a carrier with a mama cat and her three baby Manx kittens inside, all scared and crying.”
The feline family, a mother and babies, had been abandoned in a soft carrier on Bammel’s lawn, left vulnerable to the rising temperatures. With an intense heatwave predicted to strike in just a few hours, time was running out to save them. Bammel, a devoted animal rescuer, was unsure how to proceed due to the circumstances.
“Her house is being completely remodeled, so there was no safe space for the family,” Grice explained. Despite these challenges, Bammel sprang into action and contacted SHR, who immediately began searching for emergency foster care for the fragile family. As she inspected the kittens more closely, she noticed something unusual: they were all tailless.
The kittens had Manx syndrome, a genetic condition causing them to be born without tails. While some seek out tailless breeds for their unique appearance, this mutation can have serious implications for a cat’s neurological health, affecting their hind legs, bladder, and colon.
According to Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Manx syndrome “also causes severe disease consequences because of its effects on the development of the spine and spinal cord. The various forms of spina bifida that can commonly occur lead to complications that can cause partial paralysis, prevent normal behaviors, cause incontinence, and lead to painful infections. Cats evolved to have tails, and they use them for communication and balance.”
Concerned that the kittens might suffer from neurological damage, the rescuers knew they needed a foster home prepared to handle special needs cats. Fortunately, after a thorough check-up, SHR’s veterinary team confirmed that all four cats were in good health.
“Thankfully, they were rescued before the heat of the day, given care at the vet, and all proved to be in excellent health,” SHR posted on Facebook. The mama cat and her kittens were soon placed in a loving foster home, where they thrived, away from the scorching Texas sun. The mother cat was finally able to care for her babies until they were ready to venture out on their own.
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
The SHR team was smitten with all the kittens, but Ted was admittedly their favorite. He was laid back and affectionate, making him both charming and irresistible. Though the team at SHR adored Teddy and his siblings, they were eager to see them find their forever homes. Just weeks after their rescue, the kittens’ dreams came true.
All the cats, including Mom, found new families, and each cat is currently settling into their forever home. Though the summer sun still blazes across Texas, these resilient Manx cats finally have the safe, loving homes they deserve. A big thank you to The Dodo for sharing this amazing story!