I am so proud to be a foster for Sophia L’Orange Kitten Rescue.

This organization is so unique. While they focus on pregnant moms, moms with kittens, and orphaned kittens, they never shy away from helping their community. They are a 100% volunteer, foster-based organization and yet provide high-quality medical care and superb nutrition while depending solely on donations and grants.

Sophia L’Orange Kitten Rescue is very education-focused and makes sure that every cat and kitten is spay/neutered and vaccinated before adoption.

Jenia, our fearless leader, has a soft spot for special needs kittens. Our shared passion for helping the ones others shy away from leads us to the story of our intake of Lala and his Teletubby siblings Po, Dipsy, and Tinky Winky.

A Tiny Kitten Unlike the Others

Lala’s story began with a sad but all too frequent situation.

A woman had an unspayed cat that “got pregnant” and had 7 kittens. She was going away, so she was going to give away the kittens, even though they were only 4.5 weeks old and not old enough to be weaned from their mother. Thankfully, one of our rescue friends took all 8 cats into her clinic.

It was immediately apparent that one of the kittens was not like the others.

Tiny Lala showed a very significant head sway, like he was very adamantly saying no! Along with his head sway, he also tends to spin in circles when he is excited. It is very cute but sure to be exhausting.

As soon as the kittens were old enough to be weaned and separated from their mama, I took the 4 smallest to foster so there would be less competition at the food bowls, and all could get the attention they needed.

The 3 larger boys are still with their mama and doing well. Lala and his 3 sisters were very small for their age, but with lots of nutritious food, medical attention, and lots of love, I’m happy to report that they are doing really well!

Learning What Makes Lala Different

Lala is now 9 weeks old. His head sway is not typical of a CH (Cerebral Hypoplasia) or wobbly kitten. Through our amazing vet friends, we were able to consult several feline neurologists. They agree that it looks like a vestibular or cochlear issue – defects in the structures of the deep inner ear, likely a birth defect.

At Lala’s age, these structures are much too small to properly see on imaging. They may be visible when he is full grown, but it is doubtful any medical or surgical intervention would improve his situation.

So for now, we let Lala be Lala.

Letting Lala Be Lala

He can eat, drink, use the litterbox, and be an otherwise normal kitten, on his own.

We have tried elevated bowls, but he prefers those on the floor.

We have tried food in piles, food in clumps, but Lala likes his mushy, just enough to ensure I am cleaning his face several times a day!

We have tried to stabilize his head while eating, using everything from pool noodles to toddler socks, but he just freezes up, so Lala eats like Lala.

Growing Stronger Every Day

We hope that as Lala grows, he may become stronger and have somewhat more control over his head movements. While that is our hope, we have to be prepared that this may be how he always is.

We would love it if anyone who has a cat or kitten like Lala and has devised an accommodation that works to please share their ideas with us.

He does know if he turns his back to the room and looks back over his shoulder that he can be completely still. He also knows that if he climbs into my lap and gets his beloved pets, the sway stops! He is super affectionate and loves the pet sessions.

So for now, Lala is gaining weight, growing so quickly, and having a blast! Once he is neutered, we will be looking for a very special adopter who will let Lala be the very best Lala he can be.

Finding His Forever Home

We always recommend that young kittens be adopted to a home with one of their siblings or to a home with a playful resident cat. It is important for their socialization. No one wants a full-grown ankle biter; it just isn’t cute.

For Lala, it is even more important that he be adopted with a sibling. He often uses them for support while eating. He leans his head against theirs, which helps to stabilize him. They don’t seem to mind at all, but another cat may not take it as kindly.

I would not recommend he be adopted to a home with a dog with a high prey drive. While I love cats and dogs living together, I personally have always had both, but Lala would require the right dog and right dog owners.

His movements mimic wounded prey, and he would not be able to quickly get himself up and away from danger.

He does seem to be able to climb up and down my low cat trees, but he isn’t fast.

Why Foster Homes Matter

This is one of the great advantages of working with a foster-based rescue. It gives us the ability to take in the special needs kittens. It gives us the time to assess them and help them as they grow. It also gives the foster a deep sense of commitment, accomplishment, and ownership of the relationship.

At Sofia L’Orange, Jenia always includes the foster parents in the adoption process. As a foster parent, you get to review the applications, virtually meet with the potential adopters, and give the adopters a real sense of who the kittens and/or mama cat are.

People often ask me how I foster so much, how I let them go? I don’t always, which is why I have 8 cats and 1 very “special” dog. But I can let them go because I know all of my fosters are going to their forever homes with very special and fully vetted adopters.

And the adopters know that should something unforeseen happen and the people they counted on to care for their cats are no longer available, Sophia L’Orange will always take them back or assist with their rehoming. It is something we always hope doesn’t happen, but sometimes life throws curveballs.

How You Can Help

To all the readers out there, first: spay/neuter your cats! And help your friends to spay/neuter their cats too!

Adopt, foster, volunteer, and donate!

The cat/kitten crisis is out of control. Every rescue and shelter is maxed out.

If you can, adopt. If you can’t. foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer with a local rescue.

Many are also in need of administrative help, processing applications, posting on social media, assisting with fundraising, etc.

And please donate! Every dollar helps, every toy and soft blanket helps, every can of food saves lives.

Visit us at https://sophialorangekittenrescue.com/, Instagram, and Facebook.