A remarkable kitten with three legs experienced a transformation in fur color as she embarked on a quest to discover her perfect forever home.
Earlier this year, a rescue organization called Jin’s Bottle Babies in Phoenix, Arizona, received a group of five kittens discovered near an apartment complex. A kind soul found them huddled together under a bush as tiny newborns, without their mother in sight. The kittens, four black and one grey, were quickly taken in for care by a foster parent.
Peggy, the smallest of the litter, was struggling and in poor condition. Her back leg had been affected by the umbilical cord and was deteriorating. Shelbi Uyehara, the founder of Jin’s Bottle Babies, stepped in to offer assistance and save Peggy from her dire situation.
Peggy and her siblings were discovered under a bush, and Shelbi decided to take the weakest kitten under her wing. The kind lady who found the kittens offered to foster the rest of the litter. With personalized critical care, Peggy was nursed back to health and reunited with her brothers and sisters. The five kittens were then brought to Shelbi’s home to continue their foster care journey.
When Peggy finally opened her eyes, Shelbi was surprised to see how drastic the change in fur color was for some of the kittens, with Peggy’s being the most extreme. It was difficult to determine if the new smoky color was due to a “fever coat,” a phenomenon that occurs when a cat mother is stressed or sick during pregnancy.
At around 3-4 weeks old, the fur of the kittens began to undergo a transformation. According to Shelbi from Jin’s Bottle Babies, it is still uncertain whether this change is due to a ‘fever coat’ or if they are actually a smoke-coated litter, as they all still retained their wispy grey markings. Peggy, in particular, developed a layer of grey on top of her original black fur, resembling a miniature wolf.
The coat of Peggy changed to a shade of grey as she grew, along with her siblings in Jin’s Bottle Babies. Peggy and her brothers and sisters kept growing stronger and hitting new milestones. As Peggy played with her siblings, she showed her strength, even with just three paws.
Peggy proudly sported her milk mustache after feeding Jin’s Bottle Babies. She was a mischievous little one with a bag of tricks ready to go. Despite being the smallest of the litter, she never let it hold her back, always trying to outpace her siblings and even the local cats. Check out this adorable video of Peggy the kitten in action:
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Peggy bravely lived on three paws with her peg leg until she had to undergo surgery to amputate it for a better quality of life.
Peggy and her siblings, also known as Jin’s Bottle Babies, have a heartwarming story. After Peggy underwent surgery, she didn’t let it slow her down. She bounced back quickly, taking a brief cat nap before waking up the next day with a new sense of energy. She was running around like a pro, as if she had always been a three-legged kitty.
During Shelbi and her family’s home remodeling project, Peggy would hop up to them and try to lend a helping paw. Her resilience and determination were truly inspiring to everyone around her.
As Peggy grew, her fur gradually darkened in color. Shelbi shared with Love Meow how Peggy would always check on her while she was working with loud tools, making sure everything was going well, and even lying in her lap to remind her to take a break. Despite her siblings finding forever homes, Peggy patiently waited for the perfect family to adopt her.
Peggy, the remarkable kitten with three legs, has found her forever home with Jin’s Bottle Babies. Shelbi expressed her joy at Peggy being in a loving and caring household. With three cat siblings, including a one-year-old, two dog siblings, and a bunch of wonderful humans, Peggy will always have someone to cuddle with in her new home.
Jin’s Tiny Bottle Babies
The transformation these little ones have undergone, from being rescued outside in a tangled mess to now being cherished and pampered in their forever homes, has been truly remarkable. Peggy, now a stunning panther-like kitty, showcases her stunning fluffy coat with hints of grey that glisten in the sunlight.
Jin’s Bottle Babies
“From the very start, Jin’s life with us has been far from ordinary, but she’s always brought joy with her purrs and playful tail swishes,” Shelbi shared.
“While I will miss Peggy dearly, the ultimate reward for all my efforts is seeing her go to a loving forever home like the one she deserves.”
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