A little orange and white paralyzed kitten was determined to overcome what ever life threw at him.
Say hello to Renley!
Sadly, he was born paralyzed and unable to walk, because of this he was in desperate need of a special foster home.
Luckily, Jessica Ruf, who is a veterinary nurse, learned of his situation and decided to foster him.
When Jessica first met 4 week old Renley she found him completely adorable.
However, she was concerned about his condition as he appeared to be struggling.
He was covered in fleas, malnourished, soiled with poop and completely immobile from the waist down.
The exact reason behind his paralysis was not apparent at that time, so Jessica took him for x-rays and an ultrasound of his spine.
The medical scans indicated that Renley’s spine was undamaged, implying that his paralysis was likely due to a neurological issue, rather than a bone fracture.
Jessica was determined to do everything she could to improve his mobility.
So she started on a course of treatment including daily physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture.
She could tell that Renley was very determined and after three sessions of acupuncture he was already showing signs of improvement.
During his fourth treatment of acupuncture, Renley was very active and even moving his back legs.
He was overcoming many obstacles every day with the help of Jessica, his doctor and others at the clinic.
The acupuncture helped him immensely because it promotes healing and circulation.
After 10 days of being with Jessica he seemed to have lots of energy and stimulating his feet twice a day was a big help.
Then the miracle happened, Renley was walking all by himself. It brought tears to Jessica’s eyes, he still had a way to go but it was a great improvement from before.
After spending a month with Jessica, we can see how happy he is and shows himself to be a very cheeky kitty, playing and getting up to all sorts of mischief just like any other kitten of his age.
“Renley has been a very determined kitten from day one,” she explains. “He continues to amaze me each day.”
At six months old he had come such a long way since Jessica first met him, he still had acupuncture treatment to help his mobility improve.
When it was coming to the time that Renley would be put up for adoption, Jessica realised that what she wanted most was to adopt him herself!
And that’s exactly what she did!
“Yep, he’s mine!” She proudly announced.
“Renley means so much to me, as do all my foster kittens,” she said.
“He has shown me the meaning of courage, determination, and happiness. I will value and cherish this for the rest of my life.”
This little kitty came so far in six months. With the help of Jessica, he overcame all his obstacles, and went from paralyzed to walking.
Way to go Renley!
Watch the video below to see his progress:
You can keep up with Renley and Jessica on Instagram
Related story: Teeny Tiny Paralyzed Kitten Surprises Everyone
More from We Love Cats and Kittens:
If you liked this, then please share our story:
And while you’re at it, leave a comment and tell us what you thought!