California Shelter Staff In Tears When Tiny Kitten Arrives Covered Head To Paw In Paint
When the team at Wonky Hearts Animal Haven in Orange County saw the tiny kitten being brought in, they were instantly moved to tears.
His fur wasn’t soft or clean, instead, it was completely matted and soaked in bright paint from head to tail. But what really broke their hearts was the reason why.
They named him Moo, and despite the shocking condition he was in, Moo came bursting out of his carrier with excitement.
His little paws hit the floor running, and he immediately started giving kisses to everyone in sight. As they wrote on Moo’s adoption profile:
“Everyone was in tears when I arrived, but I was just SO excited to see people that I popped right out of the back and ran to give anyone and everyone kisses.”
That’s the kind of kitten Moo is. No matter how rough things get, he leads with love.
But his rescuers quickly realized Moo’s story might be darker than they’d feared.
The paint covering him wasn’t just a cruel prank, it could be a terrifying sign of where he came from. As Megan Mannarelli-Martin of W.H.A.H. said in an interview:
“This cat could have likely come from a fighting ring. Bait kittens are the unethical use of kittens as bait in dog-fighting rings. They will paint or dye their fur some sort of visible color. It’s far more common than people realize.”
Moo wasn’t just painted, he was also dangerously malnourished and clearly weak and unwell. But none of that stopped him from showering his rescuers with affection.
He purred, he kissed, and he snuggled as if he knew he was finally safe. As Megan said:
“He looked scruffy, like a little teddy bear, and like my little stuffie that I had as a child.”
The first big challenge was trying to get the paint off Moo’s tiny body. The staff tried everything: cat-safe oils, warm baths, gentle scrubs. But it was no use. Megan recalls:
“We soaked him, and we tried oil that was cat-safe. After day three, we accepted defeat. Nothing worked.”
It ended up taking 15 baths and even a little haircut to finally get Moo clean. And once the last of the paint was gone, Moo really started to shine.
“He was just the happiest, full-of-life kitten. As energetic as he was, he was just as cuddly and affectionate. He’s a snugglebug.”
Now, Moo is safe, healthy, and ready for the next chapter in his life; finding his forever home.
And if his past is any guide to his future, that home is going to be filled with laughter, joy, and lots of snuggles. As Megan shares:
“If you are somebody who needs to feel loved and held, he is that teddy bear.”
Moo is waiting patiently, looking for the perfect person or family to give him the love he’s always deserved. And for anyone who brings him home, he’s sure to return that love ten times over.
If you’re interested in adopting Moo or learning more about him, you can contact Wonky Hearts Animal Haven, and maybe, just maybe, give this special little fighter the happy ending he’s been waiting for.
