Woman stops at PetSmart for cat litter, instantly falls in love with a three-legged mama cat who desperately deserves a second chance

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 9, 2026 3:30 PM EDT

How many times have you gone out for a routine errand and come back with a new cat?

The great thing about cat lovers is that they'll always find a place for another cat if they really need to. There are so many cats in need out there that "No more" turns into "What's one more?" pretty easily. The emotional reward you get from giving a cat a second chance at life is far worth the extra work of adding one more cat to your household. It's another litter box, a few weeks of gentle introductions to the other cats in the household, and then you just have an extra cuddle buddy for life that might have spent years in a shelter, or in this case, a PetSmart without you.

This is where we introduce "Bernadette", the three-legged mama cat who met her hooman on a casual trip to PetSmart for cat litter. Bernadette was too scared to come out from her hiding spot underneath her bed. The employees told the woman that she was adopted, and then returned after only 3 days. That's not all Bernadette went through. In addition to the injury that left her legless, she also birthed four kittens (thankfully, all of them got adopted) and went through a rough time before she was turned in to PetSmart. With all the goodness in her heart, the woman couldn't resist taking Bernadette home to give her the second chance she so desperately deserved. 

We love all cats, but cats like Bernadette pull at our heartstrings a little more than others. She didn't deserve to live the life she had to. Being thrown around from family, to outside, to a shelter, back to a family, then back to a shelter. All the while, with a painful injury and being pregnant, it must have been incredibly confusing for her. All because some people view cats as objects.

Well, Bernadette is about to expurrience the high life of a spoiled indoor cat. Just her and her hooman, lots of tuna treats, and love. At the very least, that's what she deserves.

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  • 01
    Chur
    via misscrimson
  • 02
    Went to petsmart this morning for cat litter.... wound up coming home with this three legged sweetheart..... i also got cat litter Everyone say hello to Bernadette, who's name will, more than likely, change.
    via misscrimson

  • Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Oh, this poor cat with only three legs! She probably won't manage very well and nobody wanted to adopt her!” and that's where you'd be wrong. Actually, cats with three legs manage quite well physically, and their adoption rate is almost as high as healthy cats. People feel pity for these kinds of cats, and their “specialness” actually makes them more appealing sometimes. 

    We get it, who doesn't want an awwdorable three-legged cat?

    What might surprise you is that more three-legged cats get adopted than senior cats… by a lot. Go get a senior cat! They're the best!!

  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10636978432
    via misscrimson
  • 04
    She was found 5/2/2026 with a previously broken leg (they think from e or neglect, possibly either ab both) that healed where it was turned under her body and she was walking on her "wrist" area
    via misscrimson
  • 05
    She also had 4 kittens, around 8 weeks old, all of them have been adopted. She was adopted out once already and that family brought her back last week after only 3 days (that is NOT enough time at all for a cat to adjust to such huge changes).
    via misscrimson
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    Cheezburger Image 10636978688
    via misscrimson
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    She is still on kennel rest for the next 2 weeks and it could take up to 6 months for her to adjust/gain full mobility again. She is 3 years old and while she is quite timid and scared of humans right now, she is the biggest sweetheart. I can't wait to see her come out of her shell and learn that not all of us Humans are bad.
    via misscrimson
  • 08
    misscrimson I didn't even get to lay eyes on her at first. She was hiding under this little bed and would not come out, so they just put her inside the bed and handed her to me basically wrapped in the bed )
    via misscrimson
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10636981760
    via misscrimson
  • 10

    "She's watching TV with me right now"

    Cheezburger Image 10636979456
    via misscrimson
  • 11

    "I HAVE A TRIPAWD TOO! They’re the best!"

    Hydro-Defend Dramatic or soothing Energining or caining Select the palette tsults your style or use them to jump start and you to create a palette that's uniquely yours Warm Neutral Coastal Getaway mattgodburiesit
    via mattgodburiesit
  • 12
    Adept Amount_4327 She is so frikkin' cute I am going to cry. I can't believe someone returned her after 3 days. Thank you for adopting this special girl.
    via Amount_4327
  • 13
    Lorain1234 She is so adorable! It was fate the other family returned her so you would find her!
    via Lorain1234
  • 14
    Helerdril Like my baby boy
    via Helerdril
  • 15
    TanaFey Cats are super adaptable and normally recovered well. I had a tripod who CTRB several years ago. Captain Fetty had resently lost an eye when we got her at age 6. She lost her leg at 10.
    via TanaFey
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    many it ime by X
    via TanaFey
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    Puma Actual So beautiful, and if she is eating treats, she'll be feeling at home in no time!
    via PumaActual
  • 18
    TheESCPP A successful shopping trip!
    via TheESCPP
  • 19
    herrtoutant I too had a3 legged cat. they don't seem to notice the are missing it. When people pointed it out Id say," Shush he doesnt know"
    via herrtoutant
  • 20
    YinPortugal Another tripod! Here's my 3 legged baby
    via YinPortugal
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    O RARARARARARAR CARE 11111 888 O
    via YinPortugal
  • 22
    Spinbunluthaaa Thank you for doing the lord's work. She just hit the jackpot and deserves it!
    via Spinbunluthaaa
  • 23
    Narrow_Concentrate 18 What a lovely person you are! Bernadette's about to get the life she has always deserved, I'm absolutely sure of it!
    via Narrow_Concentrate
  • 24
    Morbid187 I bet that missing leg isn't going to keep her from running things at all
    via Morbid187
  • 25
    fanofoddthings Welcome to the club of tripod owners. You are in good company. A lot of us have cats that survived something horrific. I'm a new recent member to the club as well
    via fanofoddthings
  • 26
    ClearlyNoizless She's so lucky to have you! You're a wonderful human for giving her a good shot at life.
    via ClearlyNoizless
  • 27
    This is also how I ended up with my first cat. Me and my sister went to petsmart/petco because she needed cat treats or food, and we came across a scared little polydactyl girl. She wouldn't
    via ClearlyNoizless
  • 28
    interact with the other cats she was with, hissed when they got close, and stayed in the corner of her kennel. She's now the sweetest girl and ALWAYS wants cuddles from me, my partner, or her little sisters.
    via ClearlyNoizless

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three legged cats petsmart cat adoption cat rescue
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