Tiny Kitten Was Going To Be Put Down Just Because He 'Looked Different'

[catbyte]

“I hadn’t even seen a photo of him but as soon as I heard his story, I knew I had to save him."

By Caitlin Jill Anders

Cricket was born to a breeder who was planning to sell all of his siblings, but when the breeder saw his missing eye, cleft lip and crooked jaw, she decided she wouldn’t be able to sell him. She didn’t want anyone to know that she had bred an “imperfect” cat — and so she decided she was going to kill him. The breeder told someone about her plans, and this person knew she had to try and save little Cricket — so she quickly found someone who could help.

When Megan Boehm heard what the breeder was planning to do, she immediately said she would take Cricket in. She knew virtually nothing about him at the time, but she knew she couldn’t let him die. The breeder agreed to let her take the little kitten, and suddenly, Boehm became Cricket’s new mom.



snip

When Boehm first took Cricket home, he was a tiny mess. The breeder had clearly been neglecting him, and he was sick and severely malnourished. Boehm, a college student, stayed home from class on Cricket’s first day home so that she could care for him and make sure he was doing OK. With a few days of love and care, Cricket got stronger and began to heal, and after getting checked out by a vet, it appeared that the unique little kitten was going to be just fine.



snip

“Cricket has honestly given me purpose,” Boehm said. “I look forward to seeing him every day. I can't wait to come home from work or class so I can snuggle him. When I am stressed, sad or even angry, Cricket always makes it better. I look at Cricket and see what he has had to overcome and I know I can get through life’s challenges.”



https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/special-needs-rescue-cat-finds-perfect-mom

[dewsgirl]

1. Awww... Cricket is precious.

[Thomas Hurt]

2. I don't know, Cricket kinda looks like a bad@ss.

missing an eye and defiant snarl. I am what I am, get over it.

[WA-03 Democrat]

3. Beautiful

Love the great markings!

[Doreen]

4. Adorable little pirate kitty.

[iscooterliberally]

10. That was the first thing I thought when I saw him too! n/t

[democratisphere]

5. Cricket is a real cutie!

Megan Boehm and Cricket are fortunate to have each other to get through the difficulties of life.
In a different vein, the breeder that left Cricket malnourished and in poor health should be turned in for cruelty to animals.

[RobinA]

6. I Hate To Say It

but I suspect this type of behavior is typical of breeders. They like to deal in perfect specimens.

[democratisphere]

7. Agreed. Breeders like this should be put out of business.

[kag]

12. The irony is

that most "breeders" take such poor care of their animals that many/most of the puppies and kittens that end up in pet stores with price tags of hundreds of dollars have lots of medical problems ranging from skin, eye, and ear infections to more serious stuff like parvo or feline leukemia, both of which are very contagious to other animals.

If you watch some of the rescue videos by SPCA, Humane Society and Animal Rescue Corps, you see just how poorly treated these animals can be, and how absolutely heartless the breeders and puppy mill owners are.

[niyad]

8. what a sweetie

[Butterflylady]

9. Adorable!!

Cat people rule!!!!

[ZeroSomeBrains]

11. Good on you Megan

I could never agree to end a life like this purely based on such trivial criterion. I would've done the same thing under the circumstances.