Stray Kitten With A Fused Spine And Tail Is Determined To Walk And Live Happily

Nothing is holding back this fierce kitten, not even the kind of mobility issues that hinder her from using her back legs properly.

Only about a week ago, the founder of Southon Rescue and Central Florida Fosters, Dannielle Southon, found this tiny 5-week-old kitten. "She came from the local animal services after being brought in as a stray with some pretty obvious issues," Dannielle explained, saying that the kitten was in need of specialized care.

According to Love Meow, the kitty has Manx Syndrome and other congenital deformities. Simply, it means that part of her spine and part of her tail are fused together, which causes limited mobility in her hind quarters. "Her spine, tail, and leg bones were formed this way while she was still in the womb."

Read more of the story and see awwdorable pictures below!

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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

"Her spine, tail, and leg bones were formed this way while she was still in the womb," said Dannielle. Amazingly, this kitten, named Minerva or Minnie for short, doesn't let anything slow her down. She is determined to play and move around, which was the case from the very start. She is small for her age, but she is a fierce warrior at heart and always seems to be happy.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

"This girl is a lover! (The other night), she sat on my lap purring away, playing, and enjoying life to the fullest," Dannielle added. "She is also a pro at scooting around and she's very fast." She's curious, loves her foster mom, and constantly wants to know what her foster mom is doing, insisting to be around her all the time - even during bathroom breaks.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

And Dannielle, being a pawsome foster mom, actually set up a nest in the shower to keep Minnie safe and comfortable while supervising her surroundings. Of course, Minnie being as brave as she is, didn't need her little perch, instead climbing out of it so she could be up close and personal with her foster mom.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

It took several vet visits and plenty of TLC, but Minnie's stomach issues have been resolved, and she is feeling much, much better. A few days after being rescued, she has gotten more playful than ever. She's exploring everything, excited about her new freedom and not letting her limitations slow her down. In just one week, she has made incredible strides.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

"She is a happy, mobile, and active kitten who has zero idea that she is 'different'," Dannielle said. "She purrs and meows as soon as I get close to her. Her new favorite toy is these kitten springs. She's obsessed." She likes to catch invisible bugs, hop around, and climb over basically everything.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

"We're working out her consistency and medication schedule, as well as seeing just how much feeling and use she has in her back legs," Dannielle added. "My aim, as her foster mom, is to get her to her healthiest and then set Minnie up with the best chance at the best life."
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

We wish Minnie and Dannielle all the very best and would like to thank Dannielle for all of the amazing work that she does. The world could use many more people like her. Follow Minnie's story on Facebookand Instagram.
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters
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via Southon Rescue @centralflfosters

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