Did we mention Pretzel is also blind? It's no biggie, though -- this special kitty's disabilities don't slow her down one bit. Pretzel's mama Carmen Bernard found her on the side of the road in Jacksonville, FL, and brought her home, where she has charmed Bernard's family and her two dogs, one of whom is also blind.

"Mom said she imagines that having two blind animals in the same house must be comparable to having two tiny ninjas that like to try and trip you and make you break a toe at three in the morning," Bernard writes on Pretzel's Facebook page.

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Pretzel rocking out with a tiny guitar.

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Pretzel is lucky to have Carmen Bernard.

When Catster last spoke to Bernard at the beginning of March, Pretzel was recovering from her first surgery to repair her twisted rear limbs, as walking was both painful and difficult for the cat. Only a few days post-surgery, Pretzel was rocking an adorable cast. She was already standing on her new leg and seemed to be healing well.

Unfortunately, complications arose. According to Facebook updates, Pretzel suffered loss of blood flow and nerve damage in her limb, and her leg had to be amputated in mid-April. This has been challenging for Pretzel and her family, and her subsequent surgeries have been put on hold.

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Pretzel shows off her yoga skills post-amputation.

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Pretzel lounges with her fan mail.

"As many of you know, the reason we decided to try to correct the right leg as opposed to just doing the amputation to begin with is that her left knee joint is also abnormal," Bernard writes on Facebook. "As she grows it isn't going to be strong enough to support her body, and needs reconstructing as well. The doctor said this morning that is more important now to get her 'good' leg fixed, but he's not going to do it just yet."

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Pretzel inspires thousands of people around the world.

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One of Pretzel's kitty friends lounges with a smattering of Pretzel Smiles.

The good news: Plucky Pretzel is already on the mend. She's adjusting to life as a tripod -- and she has excellent role models like Anakin the Two-Legged Miracle Cat to look to for advice. On April 26, Pretzel's more than 18,000 Facebook fans even celebrated National Pretzel Day to show their support for this little kitty rockstar.

Want to offer Pretzel your support and love -- and maybe get some Pretzel smiles in return? Follow her journey on Facebook.

Read more about kitties who've lost legs:

• Meet Caffrey, a Two-Legged Cat Who Will Steal Your Heart
• Two-Legged Cat Finds His Forever Home
• A Story of Hope: Anakin, the Two-Legged Kitten
• My Tripod Would Be the Alpha Cat If It Weren't For Her Missing Leg

Of cats who are adopted, the lucky ones find themselves in posh environments filled with good food, soft places to nap, lots of toys, and sometimes other four-legged step-siblings to play with. They also find love, human companionship, and health care.

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Nemo

Others are not so fortunate. Some are given as gifts or adopted on a whim. These cats are eventually forgotten about and neglected when they’ve outgrown their newness or kitten stage. In the worst of cases, abuse is involved. It is not surprising to find at that point a pet who is becoming difficult to handle. 

Some unwanted cats are relinquished to a shelter, where they often spend months in a cage before being adopted again or killed to make room for more desirable kittens. Others are merely tossed outside on the city streets or, worse, driven to a rural placed and dumped. 

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OJ and Miss Lyla

Each time a friendly cat shows up at a feeding station set up by Catalyst for Cats Inc., a feral cat trap-neuter-return group in Santa Barbara, CA, we wonder how the poor pet came to be on the streets. We know they have experienced human companionship because they are friendly, and many have thankfully been spayed or neutered. Not used to fending for themselves, the animals arrive frightened, skinny, and starving. Some have injuries and are covered with fleas, yet here they come looking for food and love. 

I have held more than one purring former pet in my arms as it was put to sleep, too injured or ill to save. Each death brought me to tears and left another paw-print scar on my heart. These poor animals should have died in their own homes, surrounded by those who adopted them years ago, not turned out on the streets alone and in poor health. 

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Two brothers from a litter

To abandon an animal is considered abuse and is against the law in many states, but that does not stop some people from doing it. No pet should ever be turned out, to end up dying on the streets or in a stranger’s arms. I did not realize this was part of the job I signed up for more than five years ago when I volunteered at Catalyst for Cats. 

We know that the general consensus of relinquishment to a shelter is a death sentence for any pet. While this might be true in some cases, it is not a certainty. Even if the animal is put down, it is a kinder fate than suffering alone on the streets, especially during cold weather. Turing them out of the house or driving them out into the country for release is even worse, for the animals will not know where to go to for shelter or water and will most likely succumb to predation, starvation, or exposure. I can only think that someone who dumps their pet in this way soothes their own soul by remaining ignorant of the animal’s fate. 

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Tux

Before adopting a cat or kitten, carefully consider the pledge you are making. Ask yourself whether you can afford the food, litter and veterinary bills. Are you in this for the long run, even if it becomes inconvenient? Do you have a plan in place if you are no longer able to care for the animal?

An enriched environment for a cat will go a long way to alleviate boredom that often results in undesirable or destructive behavior. Be patient, remembering that the "kitten crazies" last only a few months. Cats do mellow out eventually. 

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Tweety

Here are tips for welcoming a new cat or kitten by making a cat-friendly environment:

• Consider adopting two kittens at the same time. Being social animals, they will play and sleep together, comforting each other while you are away. They are also fun to watch as they interact.

• Invest in a cat tree, the taller the better. See that at least part of it is wrapped with sisal, a favorite and irresistible scratching surface for most cats.

• Buy or make lots of toys. If your new pet is a kitten, no need to include catnip until the kitten is six months or older.

• Remove or block anything that might be a tempting target, such as breakable knick-knacks and power cords.

• Get an extra litter box or two. Put them in different rooms rather than all in one area, because when a kitten has to go, it is often an urgent need.

• Shower the animal with lots of love. The two of you will form a bond, and you'll get love in return.

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Spencer

Adopting a pet is a serious commitment. If you make one, please honor it.

Here are other stories about cat adoption:

• 8 Reasons NOT to Adopt a Kitten
• 7 Reasons to Foster a Pregnant Cat
• 10 Unconventional Ways to Pimp Out Adoptable Cats

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Little Bear is great at making friends. Since Catster last heard from the plucky, black rescue kitten in February, his Facebook family is 17,900 strong and growing -- which is good, because right now, Little Bear can use the support. 

He was born with deformed front legs that bend permanently inward. He had his first corrective surgery at Tufts University at the beginning of April. His Facebook friends from all over the world have been cheering him toward recovery.

According to Little Bear's dedicated owner, Allie O'Sullivan, so far things are going well for her tenacious, playful cat.

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Little Bear might be in a cast and a cone -- but he still loves to play.

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Little Bear gets kisses from his dedicated mama, Allie O'Sullivan.

"He had surgery on his right arm, and hasn't been putting much weight on it," O'Sullivan writes on Facebook. "He has to wear a cone because they don't want him biting his skin or the cast."

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Little Bear sleeps after surgery.

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The main downside? Little Bear misses playtime with his feline and canine siblings. But O'Sullivan has found other ways to keep him entertained while he heals.

"He is his happy self, but he misses being able to chase Boots and Smoochie and run up to Luna," O'Sullivan writes. "He loves playing with his new laser toy. He actually uses his cast to swat at it. He is mainly restricted, sitting in a large cage or a play pen. He's getting better every day, though."

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In a few months, Little Bear will have surgery to repair his left leg, with the ultimate goal to increase his mobility, reduce pain, take weight off his chest and heart, and extend his lifespan.

Want to help support Little Bear? O'Sullivan sells "Team Little Bear" bracelets to raise funds for her kitty's medical care. Check out Facebook to learn more.

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“Breakfast time!” Rhonda Van calls out at Project Bay Cat while shaking a bag of kibble. Like magic, smiling furry faces emerge from the boulders lining San Francisco Bay. TimmyBob, Cranky Pants, Spot, and Long Socks sprint toward the volunteer, pausing momentarily to bump heads. Rhonda walks toward a hidden feeding station in a nearby meadow with the jubilant cats following closely behind, their happy tails held high and waving like flags above the wild grass.

A bewildered runner jogging along the Bay Trail recreation path stops to watch the feline procession. “Are those your cats?” he asks the volunteer. Rhonda laughs and replies: “No, these are the cats of Project Bay Cat. They’re feral; well, some are friendly now.”

Right on cue, Cranky Pants rubs against Rhonda’s legs, and she tells him that the diluted tortie got her name because she gets grouchy whenever her soulmate, TimmyBob, isn’t by her side. The runner looks even more perplexed than before, and slightly distressed. “Wait, what? How do you know that? They have names? And why are they here? There aren’t any houses nearby.” 

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Flo and Red catch the last rays of the day. Photo credit: Robert Barbutti

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Project Bay Cat's director, Mary Macdonald, gives some love to TimmyBob while Long Socks, Cranky Pants, and Spot wait their turn.

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Herding cats at Project Bay Cat. Photo credit: Robert Barbutti

While cleaning food bowls and pouring fresh kibble, Rhonda explains to him that cats were abandoned here along the bay many years ago and they gave birth to kittens who grew up to become feral, since they didn’t have the benefit of human contact. When some compassionate animal lovers stumbled upon the cats nine years ago and started Project Bay Cat to help them, there were 175 cats, and they were breeding fast. Today, thanks to Trap-Neuter-Return, adoption efforts, public education, and anti-abandonment programs, the cat population has been reduced by 60 percent. No more kittens are born here, and cats are no longer abandoned at the colony.

There are 70 cats left, all of whom are healthy, happy, and always excited to see volunteers arrive with breakfast. 

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10-year-old Lily enjoys the sunset. Photo credit: Carolyn Allmacher

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Finding just the right tanning rock is priority #1 for Richard the Cat.

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Flo peeks out from the grass to see if it's breakfast time. Photo credit: Carolyn Allmacher

It’s not your typical colony. Unlike most feral cats, who live in the shadows, at Project Bay Cat they’re right out in the open. Living along a popular recreation trail, hundreds of runners, kiteboarders, bikers, and walkers see the cats every day. It’s hard to miss the cats when they’re lovingly wrapping tails around one another and posing on the rocks beside the sparkling bay with a picturesque bridge glowing in the background. 

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Teddy and Eddy's sleeping area is across a pond from their feeding station and they used to have to swim to get to their food, so volunteers built a bridge to help them cross without getting their paws wet. 

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With her happy tail held high, Teddy welcomes a volunteer. Photo credit: Carolyn Allmacher

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Many people don't think of community cats as having friends, but the Project Bay Cats are extremely affectionate with one another.

Since there’s no chance of hiding the cats, as most colony managers might try to do to avoid drawing unwanted attention, Project Bay Cat’s leaders have instead capitalized on their visibility to educate people and inspire them to help the Bay Cats and other cats in need. Thanks to signs and brochures about the program at the most popular cat-viewing locations along the trail, they’ve built a compassionate community of volunteers and supporters to provide daily care to the cats, including food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and their favorite thing ever: Fancy Feast with gravy. “It takes a lot of effort, and it’s work of love,” says Rhonda.

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Volunteer Rhonda Van takes a moment to give a friendly Bay Cat some love.

Now with the program’s Facebook page, people from all over the world are getting to know the Bay Cats and their unique personalities, seeing what it’s really like to manage community cats, and finding inspiration to help homeless animals in their own neighborhoods. 

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Longtime colony member Oscar was recently adopted and is loving his new life indoors.

One of them is Shannan Muench, who recently flew to California from her home in Florida to visit Project Bay Cat while on vacation. “They’re doing such a wonderful thing and I really want to learn from them so I can get something going where I live in Florida,” she says.  

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With the cats so visible (and beautiful) at Project Bay Cat, many trail users stop to learn more. Photo credit: Carolyn Allmacher

During her visit, she learned all about Project Bay Cat’s solutions to various challenges, from building feeding stations that are skunk- and raccoon-proof, to medicating sick feral cats, to developing relationships with veterinarians to get free and low-cost treatment for the cats. But the most memorable part for her was spending time with the Bay Cats themselves.

“They all have their own histories and stories -– they’re individuals.” While petting a Rubenesque tuxedo cat named Long Socks, Shannan says, “Their lives mean something, you know?”

She’s right –- they do. Even though the cats don’t have owners, they do have people who care about them. Project Bay Cat’s 40-plus volunteers and all their Facebook friends celebrate whenever one of the Bay Cats get adopted, and they’ve cheered for 104 adoptions so far. They share funny, happy, and touching stories about the cats and their captivating personalities. And they mourn together when one of the cats passes away of old age.

“It takes a community to take care of community cats. It’s not the cats’ fault that they ended up living outdoors, and it’s not the most ideal life for them, so it’s up to compassionate people to make it right,” says Project Bay Cat’s director, Mary Macdonald. “The colony is shrinking, and one day there won’t be any more cats at Project Bay Cat, which is all part of responsibly managing a colony. But until then, we’ll work hard to make sure that no other cats are abandoned and that those who remain in the colony get the care, love, and kindness they deserve, so they can live out their lives in peace.” 

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At Project Bay Cat, cats are part of the scenery.

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Before Project Bay Cat began, kittens were a frequent sight. But now that all the cats are spayed/neutered, kittens are no longer born in the colony. Photo credit: Robert Barbutti

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See, not all cats fear water. This is one of Tommy's favorite spots! Photo by Rhonda Van.

She admits that it’s not always easy; sometimes there are shortages of volunteers or funds to pay for the cats’ supplies, and it takes a lot of teamwork and energy to take care of the cats. But one way or another, the work always gets done.

As for the runner, he was so mesmerized by the cats and the program that he ended up accompanying volunteer Rhonda on her feeding rounds. “Those two over there who are head bumping –- are they related?" he asks while helping pour food and water into ant-proof bowls at each feeding station. "And what about that gray one over there? What’s her story?” By the end of the feeding rounds, he knows a little bit about each of the cats and what Project Bay Cat does to help them. 

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Happy Feet enjoys a wet food appetizer while volunteer feeder Tony replenishes the food and water bowls. Photo by Rhonda Van.

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Perched above the water, Megan naps on her favorite scratching post. Photo credit: Robert Barbutti

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When Sunset's kidneys began to fail, a volunteer took her in to feed her special food and get her treatment. She's doing great in her foster home. Photo by Robert Barbutti.

He fishes a $20 from his pocket and hands it to Rhonda to help pay for the cats’ food, then reaches down to pet Croucher, who Rhonda calls a “fake feral.” The once-shy tabby used to maintain a 30-foot distance from people at all times, but now volunteers have socialized her, and she can’t get enough love. 

“Think I could volunteer to be a feeder?” the runner asks. Rhonda nods with a smile and says, “Of course! I think Croucher just approved your volunteer application.”   

To learn more, to volunteer, or to support Project Bay Cat by donating much-needed supplies, visit the Facebook page.

Project Bay Cat co-founder Cimeron Morrissey is a cat rescuer and award-winning writer who was named Animal Planet's Cat Hero of the Year in 2007. In addition to her writing and rescue work, Cimeron provides advice and guidance to rescue groups and is a public speaker who teaches people how to help animals in need.

Do you know of a rescue hero — cat, human, or group — we should profile on Catster? Write us at catsterheroes@catster.com.

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When one of Cindy Chambers' students found a malnourished, sickly cat who appeared to be missing his nose wandering the streets of her neighborhood, the student contacted her big-hearted professor. Chambers is a special education faculty member at East Tennessee State University, and she is dedicated to helping people with disabilities.

"She thought, 'He has a disability, so why don’t I call my professor who focuses on disabilities in her field and also does some animal rescue work?'" Cindy says.

Cindy has a soft spot for animals in need. For about five years, she and several other faculty members at East Tennessee State have fostered animals either abandoned or taken from the homes of individuals who can no longer care for them. They have found homes for numerous puppies and kittens.

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Despite his cleft palate, Lazarus is just like any other kitty.

Cindy also considers her own home a "rescue house." She started with only one cat, but she now has four cats and four dogs -- "and I don't need any more," she laughs. But when her student introduced her to Lazarus, she couldn't say no.

"As soon as I got him, I looked in the carrier, and I thought, oh my goodness, this poor little kitten," she says. "I was really scared that when I took him to the vet, they were going to say I’d need to put him down."

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The tiny, gray kitten was not in good shape. Cindy's student had asked around the neighborhood to see whether Lazarus belonged to anyone -- "but we were kind of hoping she didn't find who Lazarus belonged to, because he was malnourished, he had fleas, and his mouth was in really poor condition," Cindy says. He had a cleft palate, a congenital deformity that left him without an upper lip or the soft padding of his nose. This type of deformity is not very common in cats. With his lower fangs protruding, he looked a bit like a bulldog -- or perhaps an adorable vampire.

According to the vet, his mouth was also severely infected. He had bone exposure on the roof of his mouth, and the infection had spread into his nasal passages. There was good news, though: At 10 weeks old, Lazarus was a survivor.

"The vet said he’s made it this long -- he’s a trooper," Cindy says. "He said if we can get his infection under control, he’ll probably make it. That was awesome to hear."

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Lazarus loves to play.

The vet started Lazarus on antibiotics, and his infection improved. But the moment he went off the antibiotics, his infection returned. This pattern persisted for several months -- Lazarus would start taking antibiotics and seem to be getting healthy, only to have a resurgence of his old symptoms the moment the antibiotics stopped. Cindy finally discovered the possible reason for his health problems when she went out of town for a couple of days. She returned home to discover a startling surprise.

"One of his canine teeth on the top came in in two days," she says. "I left town and left him with my roommate, and when I came back he had this gigantic tooth sticking out of his mouth. And I thought maybe the infection was coming from an abscessed tooth."

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Lazarus loves playing with -- and occasionally harassing -- his feline siblings.

She was onto something. The vet removed Lazarus' canine teeth and cleaned out all of the infection from his mouth and nasal passages. The result? Lazarus had a new lease on life as a healthy kitty. Today, at seven months old, his only remaining concern is the occasional bloody nose, which Cindy manages by running a humidifier beside his bed each night.

"He had that surgery, and he has not had a single health problem since," Cindy says. "Day to day, he’s just like any other cat. He’s rambunctious, he plays, he cuddles -- he does all the things every other cat does, but at night he sleeps with a humidifier."

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Because of his unique look, Lazarus is well known among Cindy's colleagues. In fact, a number of professors even talk about him in their classes -- particularly in the speech and language pathology center.

"When they talk about cleft palates, they talk about Lazarus as well," she says.

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Cindy's ultimate goal for Lazarus is to train him as a therapy pet. In this role, she hopes he will change people's perceptions about individuals and animals with disabilities and help deliver the message that they can contribute positively to society. Follow Lazarus on Facebook here.

"My hope is that through meeting Lazarus and hearing a little bit about the other work I do, people can apply those beliefs to people with disabilities," Cindy says. "You immediately feel some kind of connection with Lazarus because he has such a great personality and he’s just so loving. His disability really isn’t a focus. He’s just a really awesome cat."

Read about more special-needs kitties on Catster:

• Pretzel the Kitten is Blind, Deformed and Inspiring People on Facebook
• Deformed Legs Can't Hold Back Little Bear the Rescue Kitten
• Deformed Front Legs Can't Stop Triumph the Kitty
• Meet D'Artagnan, a Paraplegic Kitty Living Life to the Fullest 

Do you know of a rescue hero — cat, human, or group — we should profile on Catster? Write us at catsterheroes@catster.com.

Waiting lists for kittens? You’re telling me that you have a list of people wanting to adopt a kitten (any kitten, any color, any gender!) -- while down here, we can’t find homes for all the ones we have, so much so that they end up on death row?

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Peep and Jellybean, two kittens recently "shuffled" from North Carolina to Illinois!

I was floored to learn this. Maybe I already knew it, but I never processed the reality. We almost always have adorable, adoptable kittens here in the South -– but in the North, where it gets frigid cold and the cats don’t feel like getting frisky any more than the people do in that weather, they have none. Zero, zip, zilch. 

You want kittens? We have kittens. Now let’s connect the dots and save some lives!

It’s not a new idea, but one that I wish were used more widely. Why not transport the unwanted kittens from the states in the South (think Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina) up north, where people would love to have them!

Kitten season is right around the corner (it’s basically already here in Florida), so we have to act fast. We have perfect kittens who will be ready for adoption almost right away, while the future babies up north will still need a few months to go big and strong before they can leave their moms and go home.

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Barry and Whiskers on the road from Florida to Illinois last weekend!

The way I figure, we can get a huge number of kittens out of the South and to the North before its kitten season is in full swing –- and save a bunch that way. Get a bunch of adoptable kittens up there now, and they’ll all be adopted before their own kitten season’s babies are ready to go!

I've been doing exactly this in the past couple of months, and I hope to find more rescue contacts to do it on a larger scale. I have friends at rescues all over, but two in particular have been amazing. Forever Home Feline Ranch in Springfield, Ill., has taken in two carloads, and HART of Maine in Cumberland is getting the next bunch of kittens from Florida in a couple of weeks. I work with my local rescues to bust the little ones out of animal control here, then get them ready to travel and send them off!

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Load 'em up and send them off to safety! Say bye to those palm trees in the background, kitties!

Most of the kittens already have adopters lined up (without even meeting the kittens!) before the babies even get there. It’s amazing! These are all kittens who would probably have died in our shelters because there simply isn't enough demand down here to take them all in. 

So let's shuffle kittens to save lives. If you’re a part of a rescue with a waiting list for kittens (I know you’re out there!), please contact a shelter down South and see how you can help. Many are on Facebook, sharing posts desperately every day to find their cats and kittens homes. They don’t want to kill them, so let’s make it so they don’t have to!

When you call a shelter, ask about the rescues they work with. It’s usually not a big task to get the cats tested and vetted, and then it’s just a matter of transport. This can be the trickiest part. Head back to Facebook to find people willing to help. You’d be surprised how far someone might be willing to drive to save a life.

I have organized more than a few transports thanks to the readers of my blog, Your Daily Cute, and there are other transport groups on Facebook willing to help, too. There are always cats and kittens -- the key is finding rescues to take them in!

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More kittens on their car ride to freedom!

What do you say we clear out the South’s shelters and save them all before kitten season hits for real? We’d be saving future lives because of it, and saving the lives of the ones we shuffle right away. It might take a little work and coordination, but it’s worth it to save lives, right?

I have no idea what I’m getting myself into here (hopefully a lot!), but feel free to contact me if you’re a rescue who is interested. Or contact a shelter down here directly!

And if it’s too late to do it for this year, let’s remember this next year -- when the snow is plentiful and the kittens are not.

Thanks for helping save lives! You can find me on Twitter, at YourDailyCute.com, and my blog's Facebook page. You can also talk to me in the comments section below. 

Read more about cat rescue: 

• I Used to Hate Kill Shelters -- Now I Think They Get a Bad Rap
• 8 Reasons NOT to Adopt a Kitten
• 10 Unconventional Ways to Pimp Out Adoptable Cats

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"As soon as I saw his face, that was the end of it," she says. "I fell in love. I had to find him."

But finding him was no easy task. She'd stumbled across Magoo's distinctive, grinning mug while browsing the Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary's Facebook page. It was a courtesy post for another shelter, so she wasn't sure where or how to locate her new love. She enlisted the help of a co-worker and started making phone calls and sending emails to every rescue she could find in the Philadelphia area. Four days later, she got a response from the Pennsylvania SPCA.

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Mr. Magoo grins at the camera.

Colleen drove across state lines to retrieve Mr. Magoo, but he had fallen extremely ill. He had a severe upper respiratory infection that left his eyes crusted shut and his nose bloody. He could not see or smell his food, so he was not eating unless someone fed him by hand -- and even then, eating was painful, because his mouth was full of ulcers. He was on intravenous drugs, but he didn't seem to be responding. Colleen would not be able to take him home just yet. 

While Mr. Magoo was in intensive care, Colleen called every day to check on his condition. After about two weeks, the vet suggested Colleen try caring for Magoo at home. What Magoo needed, the vet said, was someone with enough time and patience to give him the care he needed -- something shelter staff members, though knowledgeable, caring, and helpful, were unable to provide, because of the sheer volume of cats in their care.

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It's easy to see why Colleen Kelly-Angstadt fell in love with Mr. Magoo the moment she saw him.

Bringing Magoo home ended up being best for everyone. Amazingly, even though he had spent the first two years of his life living blind on the streets, he warmed up quickly to Colleen and her husband, Scott.

"From the moment we brought him home, he was a sweetheart," she says. "Within three days, he was a completely different cat. He was eating, he was responding -- he was amazing."

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According to Colleen, Mr. Magoo was born blind; his eyes and eyelids are not fully formed. He has extremely limited peripheral vision, however, and he responds to flashes and bright lights. This is perhaps why he is so photogenic, almost seeming to grin in his many Facebook snapshots. 

"He can't see anything dead-on, but on the sides he can see lights and shadows," Colleen says. "He turns his head all the time to get a glimpse of something. He's very partial to light, like flashes of the camera. As soon as we do that, he looks right at you -- like, oh, there it is!"

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Proceeds from the sales of "Gooey Wear" t-shirts go to animal shelters that rescue special-needs pets.

Despite Mr. Magoo's blindness, Colleen learned that her cat's so-called disability made no difference to him. He was just like any other cat, except he perhaps ran into walls and fell off of shelves a bit more often than others. Colleen's six other cats are all rescues, but Magoo was her first special-needs adoption. She had been considering bringing a special-needs pet into her home since getting to know several people with special-needs pets on Facebook and following their stories. After adopting Magoo, she realized that when it comes to special-needs pets, you always get more than you give.

"They just need a little extra attention and a little more love," she says. "If you have the time and the patience, what they give you back is so much more than what you're giving them."

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She has also enjoyed the special bond she and Magoo share, which is different than her bond with her other cats.

"[Special-needs cats] respond differently than other cats," Colleen says. "It's almost like they're more grateful. They trust you to take care of them. I notice when [Mr. Magoo] gets stressed and he's not sure, he'll look up at me, and I'll cup his face with both of my hands, and I can instantly see him relax. He knows that mom's here; it's OK."

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Because Colleen decided to give her special-needs kitty a chance after following others on Facebook, she is paying it forward by sharing Mr. Magoo’s journey -- follow along here. She has also created “Gooey Wear,” a line of T-shirts, mugs, and totes bearing her special kitty’s adorable face. She donates the proceeds to shelters that care for special-needs pets and helps them find forever homes.

“My whole goal for his page is if I can get somebody else to open up their heart and home to a special-needs pet so it doesn't have to be put down, then I've succeeded,” she says.

Read about more special-needs kitties on Catster:

• Pretzel the Kitten is Blind, Deformed and Inspiring People on Facebook
• Deformed Legs Can't Hold Back Little Bear the Rescue Kitten
• Deformed Front Legs Can't Stop Triumph the Kitty
• Meet D'Artagnan, a Paraplegic Kitty Living Life to the Fullest 

Do you know of a rescue hero — cat, human, or group — we should profile on Catster? Write us at catsterheroes@catster.com.

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Nestled in the quiet town of Thomasville, GA, is Miss Kitty Feline Sanctuary, the first and only no-kill, no-cage cat rescue in Thomas County. Founded in 2010 by Bettye and Jerry Henderson and seven others, Miss Kitty could not open its doors soon enough. Thomas County had long suffered an overpopulation of stray and feral cats, as well as the continuous contributions by intact pets.

Miss Kitty, licensed with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, quickly filled 10 cat rooms and today is home to more than 100 cats.

“We don’t want to be the dumping ground,” says director Carol Jones. “We take in cats when we have space. We really try to help hardship cases.”

Jones gave an example of a couple who were moving to Europe and would have had to pay $3,000 per cat for them to go through the quarantine process required in Britain. Unable to afford the exorbitant fee, they turned to Miss Kitty for help.

“They tried every other option,” Jones says. “There was just nowhere for them to go.”

When the couple found out they were going to have a baby, they were able to transfer back to the States.

“They’re coming back to get their cats," Jones says. "They’re excited, and we’re so happy to see the cats go home. We’re glad we could help.”

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Photo by Robert Porter. Miss Kitty is across the road from the famous rose garden of Thomasville, Georgia.

Around Christmas, a Thomasville resident and Miss Kitty supporter contacted the rescue about taking in a stray cat with a withered leg. The shelter agreed to take in the cat, named Cassidy, and the resident paid for the surgeries required to amputate the leg and get Cassidy spayed. The resident also donated an additional $190 to Miss Kitty and told Jones that if someone came in and wanted a cat but couldn’t afford the $110 adoption fee, the money should be used for that purpose.

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Cats lounging in a donated dog crate that was converted into a "cat cave." How many do you see?

Not long after this, a woman came in looking for a cat for her housebound father. When told how much the adoption fee would be, the woman faltered, saying she would have to wait. Jones remembered the donation from earlier in the year and told the woman that her fee would be covered for whatever cat she chose. As fate would have it, she chose little three-legged Cassidy.

Weeks later, the woman called the shelter with some good news. “Cassidy really changed that man’s outlook on life,” Jones says. “He quit calling his daughter as much and became more independent. He even gave Cassidy a special pillow on the couch! That’s what we’re all about.”

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Mama Welch arrived with six kittens. She is still looking for her forever home, along with some of her kittens, now young adults.

Miss Kitty has 10 spacious rooms that house a variety of cats. “Originally, we tried to sort everyone by age, but as they got older and not adopted, we ended up with a variety of ages in each room,” says Jones. “We move cats sometimes according to personality as well.” Each room has a large picture window with plenty of perch room for the cats to watch the outdoor activities. This year, Miss Kitty hopes to build an outdoor area with four separate runs.

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Tabs is also looking for a forever home!

Jones says Miss Kitty doesn’t turn away FIV+ or other special-needs cats: “We will adopt out our FIV+ cats, but we make sure the adopters know what it means to have a FIV+ cat and the responsibility that comes with it.”

They recently had to make the hard decision to euthanize one of their special-needs cats, a gorgeous white cat with an aggressive cancer in her ears, resulting in the removal of the visible parts of her ears. After a long battle with cancer and secondary infections, the beautiful cat just couldn’t fight any more.

“We’re a no-kill sanctuary, but we’re not going to [prolong] a sick cat’s misery,” says Jones. Some people don’t realize that no-kill shelters/rescues still have to resort to euthanasia for special cases.

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This little cutie was shy but very curious.

At Miss Kitty, each room is its own community with plenty of room to move and play. The cats are social and surprisingly calm. Donated dog crates are lined with pillows and throws to make cozy hideaway caves. The building, formerly a daycare center, has plenty of cabinets, which are kept open for the cats to explore and hide away in.

Miss Kitty is completely volunteer-run and funded by donations. Science Diet donates all of the food and Oil-Dri donates the kitty litter. These donation partners take much of the financial burden off Miss Kitty. About sixty volunteers also run the thrift shop Miss Kitty opened in 2011 to further supplement individual donations. Hours are scheduled so that the cats always have fresh water, food, clean litter boxes, and human interaction.

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Carol with one of her charges.

Finding homes for the homeless isn’t Miss Kitty’s only community contribution –- it also assists with spay/neuter. “Once a month, we take cats down to Jennings, Florida,” explains Jones. “We help local people get their cats spayed or neutered for less [money]. We’re really trying to make a difference in the community. You have to spay/neuter a certain amount of cats to see a reduction in the population, and that’s our end goal.”  

Read about other shelter heroes:

• Seattle Persian and Himalayan Rescue Saves the Princesses
• I Work with FIV-Positive Cats, and Guess What? They're Not Broken!
• Maine Coon Adoptions Rescues "The Dogs of the Cat World"
• I Used to Hate Kill Shelters, But Now I Think They Get a Bad Rap

Do you know of a rescue hero — cat, human, or group — we should profile on Catster? Write us at catsterheroes@catster.com.