On a dark and frigidly cold late winter night, a cat was seen in a parking lot, rummaging for some crumbs next to an apartment’s trash bin. As the wind whipped twigs and papers at the little cat, she was not deterred in her quest to survive and she struggled to keep upright on front legs that appeared as though one was very much shorter than the other. The apartment dweller rushed out into the cruel night, and grabbed the little cat in her arms and pressed her close to give her some warmth. Once inside, it was obvious that the skinny little cat’s bulging abdomen meant she would give birth to kittens very soon. Also, the front leg that appeared shorter was actually bent at a right angle, causing the effect that she was walking on her “elbow”. The leg was calloused and raw from its unusual position. The kind couple who rescued Minou was immersed in financial troubles and hardships and handicaps of their own, but that only made them more determined to find some help for this unfortunate little cat. For days these kind souls phoned every humane society and rescue organization asking for someone to come and pick up the pregnant disabled cat, because they were not allowed cats in their apartment and were not able to take care of her. They were frantic as they went through the list, and at last, one rescue organization responded saying they would come to pick up the cat. Minou was checked by a veterinarian and placed in a foster home where she could give birth to her kittens. Any surgical help for her leg had to wait until her kittens were weaned. About ten days later, Minou gave birth to seven beautiful kittens. Four of them were adopted out as soon as they were old enough and Minou and the remaining three male kittens were transferred to Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary.

One of Minou’s three sons, Finnigan, has a congenital lung problem, which made it unlikely for him to be adopted. Finnigan and the other two sons, Casey and Buttons, were so kind and devoted to their disabled mother, often grooming her and playing with her very gently, that it seemed the best plan to let them all continue living at the sanctuary together. It appeared that Minou had likely suffered an infected bite wound which destroyed the tendons in her foot and lower leg, causing it to bend sideways. Surgery to repair the tendons proved unsuccessful and her right front leg was then required to be amputated. Showing the same courage and determination as when she battled the elements out on the streets, this beautiful little cat has learned to manage with only one front leg, and even climbs up the ladder to the little loft where she has a snooze with her three sons.