Florida Rescuer Takes In A Dumped Cat But A Tiny ‘Oopsie’ Baby Leaves Her Completely Speechless
A Tampa rescuer assumed she was taking in a male Persian cat in need of a home. Three weeks later, a tiny, unexpected arrival changed all of her plans.
A Neighborhood Crisis
Dominique, an experienced animal rescuer in Florida, was used to the unexpected.
Having saved hundreds of animals through her nonprofit, she knew that every rescue mission came with its own set of surprises.
But nothing could have prepared her for the tiny, delicate arrival that would soon take over her life and her heart.
It all started when a heartbreaking situation unfolded in her Tampa neighborhood of Forest Hills.
A local breeder had reportedly passed away, and a group of Persian cats was suddenly dumped in the area.
Because the community knew Dominique rescued animals, one of these abandoned cats was brought directly to her rescue.
The Ultimate Surprise
When the fluffy Persian cat arrived at the rescue, Dominique and her team were given some basic information.
Based on what they were told, they assumed the new arrival was a boy.
For three weeks, the cat settled into the rescue without anyone suspecting a thing.
Then, Dominique walked into the room one day and was left completely speechless.
There, beside the rescued cat, was a tiny, "skrunkly" newborn kitten that looked like one little blob.
Stepping Up As Mom
The tiny surprise, who would later be named Wisp, was what Dominique affectionately called a "little oopsie baby."
Unfortunately, the mother cat had absolutely no interest in her unexpected kitten.
Wisp never latched on to nurse, and the mother cat simply didn’t want to take on the maternal role.
Dominique knew that if this fragile little blob was going to survive, she would have to step in immediately.
Without hesitation, she took over as Wisp’s full-time mother.
A Demanding Little Survivor
Caring for a newborn kitten is a grueling, around-the-clock job.
Dominique had to wake up every two hours to bottle-feed the tiny Persian, a routine she maintained for the first five to six weeks of Wisp’s life.
Despite her tiny size, Wisp quickly developed a massive personality and a loud voice.
If Dominique took too long preparing the bottle, the little "stinky escape artist" would start screaming to demand her meal.
It was exhausting work, but Dominique cherished every single feeding.
An Unexpected Medical Hurdle
As Wisp grew, Dominique noticed that the kitten was struggling with a serious health issue.
Wisp was diagnosed with an intestinal stricture, a potentially congenital condition that narrowed her intestines.
This made it incredibly difficult and painful for the tiny kitten to go to the bathroom.
To help her, Wisp had to undergo a specialized medical procedure called a "ballooning" to open up the stricture.
While she may need a few more of these procedures in the future, the medical intervention and daily medicine have helped her immensely.
Messy Meals And Flat Faces
Like many Persian cats, Wisp has a very flat face, which makes mealtime a bit of a comedic struggle.
When she eats, she simply shoves her entire face into her food bowl.
While there are special, elevated bowls designed specifically for flat-faced breeds, Wisp is still far too small to use them.
Because of this, mealtime gets incredibly messy, and Dominique constantly has to clean her up.
She even joked about making the mistake of washing Wisp right before giving her a snack, completely undoing all her hard work.
A Unique And Adorable Look
Wisp’s flat face and messy eating habits aren’t the only things that make her special.
Because of her short face, she has a very hard time grooming herself, so Dominique has to keep up with brushing and maintaining her fur.
The result is a perpetually disheveled, adorable look that melts hearts wherever she goes.
Whenever people see her, they joke that she looks like she just woke up from a very deep nap.
Dominique even lovingly compares her wild, sticking-up hair to the cartoon character Jimmy Neutron.
A Delicate Little Roommate
Because Wisp is so small and medically fragile, she requires a very specific living situation.
Dominique keeps her in her own special room, separated from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house.
Having been raised by Dominique since she was just a day old, Wisp is incredibly attached to her human mom.
She loves to be carried around, held constantly, and will literally shove her face into Dominique’s to demand kisses.
If Dominique is gone for more than a couple of hours, Wisp acts like it is the end of the world.
A Forever Bond
Since officially establishing her nonprofit last June, Dominique has rescued over 600 cats and more than 200 dogs.
She knows that the ultimate goal of animal rescue is always to say goodbye and send them to loving forever homes.
But Wisp’s story was destined to end a little differently.
Because of her ongoing medical journey and the deep bond they share, Dominique knows Wisp needs to stay right where she is.
The tiny "oopsie baby" who arrived by surprise has officially found her forever home, and Dominique is already looking to add another kitten friend to keep her company.
