California Woman Rescues Starving Kitten Only To Discover A Rare Reason Why He’ll Never Grow Up

He was found starving near a cat colony, looking like a fragile kitten with an old man’s face. But a series of vet visits revealed a lifelong secret about his tiny size.

A Desperate Situation

When Erica first spotted a tiny feline wandering the streets, she knew he needed immediate help. He was incredibly small, looking like a fragile kitten, but he had the distinct, wise face of an older cat.

He was barely bigger than a can of Coke and could easily fit in the palm of a single hand.

Despite his small stature, it was clear that this little survivor had been through a lot, and his journey was only just beginning.

Erica found the little cat near a known cat colony in her area. He was in terrible shape, completely alone and fending for himself.

He was starving and covered in fleas, desperate for someone to intervene.

Erica scooped him up, gave him a much-needed bath, and decided to call him Kermit.

Searching For Answers

She knew she had to get him to a veterinarian right away to give him a fighting chance.

At the vet, the medical team discovered just how much Kermit had been battling. He was suffering from worms and parasites that had taken a heavy toll on his tiny body.

To make sure nothing else was wrong, they ran a full battery of tests. Kermit endured ultrasounds, blood work, and x-rays.

Erica and the vet team kept working together, trying to understand why he was so incredibly small.

They needed to get to the bottom of his mysterious lack of growth.

A Permanent Tiny Status

Finally, the constant vet visits yielded an answer: Kermit was a dwarf cat. He was permanently small and would never reach the size of a standard feline.

When Erica first brought him home, he weighed a mere 0.8 pounds. By the six-month mark, he had only grown to one pound.

Today, at one and a half years old, Kermit weighs just 2.2 pounds.

Erica compares his size to an iPad Mini, noting that he is even smaller than a standard Stanley Cup.

Because of his miniature stature, strangers constantly ask Erica if he is a kitten, and she has to explain his whole story.

A Patient Little Patient

Because of his rough start, Kermit had to be on medication for a large portion of his kittenhood.

Despite the constant treatments, he never reacted poorly or put up a fight.

“He never really reacted because he knew that we were helping him the entire time,” Erica explained.

During this healing process, a beautiful bond began to form between the tiny cat and his rescuer.

Spider-Man Moves And Special Care

While Kermit can run and play, his dwarfism means he can’t jump onto furniture like a regular cat.

Instead, Erica set up ramps to help him get around the house. When ramps aren’t available, he simply climbs up things like Spider-Man.

He also requires a bit of special medical care for a lifelong condition. Kermit contracted the feline herpes virus from his time near the cat colony, which causes his eyes to get goopy.

The condition flares up when he gets anxious or stressed, but Erica manages it easily with daily eye drops.

A Jealous Little Brother

Despite his miniature size, Kermit has a massive personality and demands to be the center of attention.

Erica has a six-month-old nephew who visits sometimes, and Kermit immediately views the baby as his number one enemy.

If Erica gives the baby any attention, Kermit will completely ignore her for the rest of the day.

If she calls him over after touching the baby, he will just chirp at her and walk right away in protest.

Funny Quirks And Preferences

Kermit also has some very specific preferences when it comes to the people he likes.

According to Erica, he doesn’t really love women, which she admits is a bit of a funny hurdle.

Instead, this tiny dwarf cat has a strong affinity for men with beards.

However, he makes a massive exception for Erica, viewing her as his ultimate safe space and mother figure.

An Unbreakable Bond

When Erica brushes him, Kermit will gently clean her fingers in return, showing his deep affection.

“He’s very attached to me and I’m very attached to him,” she shared.

Whenever anyone asks Erica what she plans to do after a long day, her answer is always that she gets to go home and see her cat.

The feeling is entirely mutual, as Kermit is always waiting right at the door to greet her with a high five.