A kitten with bent paws was found on a farm along with her brother. she was determined to live a full life, writes kittencatpost.

Two tiny kittens were found in terrible shape in a barn in Ithaca, Michigan, late last year. After finding out about the pair Anna Dickerson-Homan, an animal rescuer and experienced foster mom from Higgins Lake, raced to rescue the brother and sister.

She was told by the owner of the barn, that the siblings were around 8 weeks old. But after meeting the undernourished pair, she could see they were much younger.

“Clearly, they are much, much younger and about 4-5 weeks. Lisa (tabby) weighs about 460g and Bart (black) weighs about 600g,” said Anna.

After picking the pair up, Anna brought them home and gave them a much-needed bath followed by a nutritional meal, soon falling asleep with nicely filled bellies.

Having seen congenital abnormalities Anna then brought the kittens to a vet for a diagnosis as to what was going on with the cute pair.

“They were diagnosed with something called Pectus Excavatum with a flat chest. Basically, what’s supposed to be a nice and round ribcage is squashed into a hamburger shape. These kitties both also have Manx Syndrome, which causes a shortened spinal column and for them to be born with no tail.”

“Lisa also has severely supinated feet, meaning the soles of her front feet are turned inwards and twisted causing her to walk on her forearms,” said Anna.

Despite these abnormalities, both kittens were in very good spirits, keen to explore their new surroundings with their newfound energy.

Especially Lisa, who was practically unstoppable despite her difficulties with walking.

No longer having to struggle to survive, she enjoyed her life as an indoor cat to the full. Playing and sleeping just like any other kitten would.

Glued to her brother’s side, she followed him where ever he went, doing whatever he did.

Having some issues with a kitten that had mobility challenges presented some issues for Anna.

“My husband built this ramp to help her get on and off the couch, and here’s her learning how to use it! Go, Lisa, go! “

Despite these issues, she continued to amazing her family with her ability to do almost anything, such as peering out the window just like Bart.

Both kittens were soon receiving medical treatment for their various issues. Lisa needed far more treatment than her brother let nothing faze her.

“We have been working by virtual consult with a Physical Therapist out of Miami to come up with a care plan for both Lisa and Bart and are hopeful that their conditions will improve greatly with dedicated treatment.”

“We have tried splinting her arms to straighten them, but if the cause of her inability to walk properly is neurologic, splinting is only causing her stress and we want to avoid that.”

The funds needed to provide Lisa with the care she needs to live the best life possible were substantial. However, within three days of asking for help via social media, Anna raised the funds required.

“I am filled to the brim with love and gratitude. Many of the donations were from people I don’t know and people who do not follow me on this account.”

“So, for those who donated, shared, liked and/or commented on my posts – thank you for helping me advocate for this sweet thing who is so deserving of a chance.”

“She is consistently playful, happy and bright. She is perfectly imperfect and a cognitively normal kitty who just wants to do cat things,” Anna went on to say.

Still living life to the full, Lisa plays hard and cuddles even harder. After a long day of fun, she likes nothing more than to drift off sleep with a paw rub from her foster dad.

Bart has been by his sisters side right from the start, her strongest support, her rock.

Anna hopes one day to find this sweet pair a loving forever home, one that understands their unique needs and will give them the space to grow.

“I’ll keep them till I find a home that’s a perfect fit for them.”

“They are just as deserving of love and attention as ‘normal’ cats and kittens.”

TO WATCH THIS CUTE KITTENS JOURNEY PLEASE CLICK PLAY BELOW:

This story originally appeared on kittencatpost.com

Cats are good at self-maintenance. But even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of these more common cat diseases and health issues.

1. Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common problem with cats with a multitude of causes. They range from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes to hairballs.

Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. It may help to collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

2. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Some estimates say as many as 3% of cats seen by vets have feline lower urinary tract disease ( FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.

Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight or unfit or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has.

FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

3. Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem. But it's one you can easily treat. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on its skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication. Fleas are uncommon in Utah. If you adopt a pet from a region outside of Utah or are housing a pet that recently came from another state, please be aware of fleas.

4. Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine and sometimes grow as long as 2 feet.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.

Treatment options include injection, oral, or topical medication. But because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

5. Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.

Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or months.

If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent  dehydration. Then remove kitty's food for no more than 12 to 24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite or if your cat is straining to defecate.

6. Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including  conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.

A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.

Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.