Utah Cat Missing Both Front Legs Shows What True Strength Looks Like
If you saw Rexie Roo for the first time, you might not even notice he’s missing two legs. He hops, runs, plays, and climbs with such confidence that it’s easy to forget he’s not like most cats.
Honestly, he’s so full of life that you’d never guess what he’s been through.
But Rexie doesn’t need anyone’s pity. He’s thriving. In fact, he’s happier and more playful than a lot of four-legged cats out there.
Danielle, who’s part of the Best Friends Animal Society, first met Rexie Roo through her volunteer work. Before coming to her, Rexie had already been through quite an ordeal.
One night in Utah, he was found badly injured, most likely after being hit by a car. He had two broken legs, was weak and malnourished, and FIV-positive.
Things didn’t look good, and the local shelter was out of options. Euthanasia seemed like the only choice left.
But the shelter staff refused to give up on him. They reached out for help, and thankfully, Best Friends Animal Society in Salt Lake City responded right away.
When Rexie arrived, their vets discovered the damage to his front legs was too severe to repair. The only way to save him was to amputate.
It was heartbreaking, but it was also his only shot at survival.
The surgery was a success, and within a few days, Rexie was up, healing, and ready for the next step. That’s when another foster volunteer, Megan McCloud, stepped in to care for him.
At first, Megan had to carry him everywhere, his food bowl, his litter box, you name it. He was still weak and on a lot of medication.
Thankfully, Megan’s other cat became his little buddy, cuddling with him and encouraging him to eat more. Slowly but surely, Rexie Roo began to regain his strength.
When it was time to help him learn to walk again, Megan passed the torch to Danielle, who took the challenge with love and determination.
Danielle knew cats can be incredibly motivated by one thing: treats. She shared in an interview:
“He doesn’t walk like T-Rex, but he does lift his torso off the ground. Luckily he is very food-motivated. We were able to get him to start walking by luring him with treats, putting his food bowl a little bit out of reach, and giving him a treat-dispensing ball that he pushed around with his nose.”
And it worked. Before long, Rexie was hopping confidently across the room, exploring everything, and even jumping up onto furniture.
When Rexie Roo finally mastered walking, climbing, and even using the litter box all on his own, everyone knew he was ready for his forever home.
That’s when Cairistiona Flatley saw his photo on Instagram and instantly fell in love. She already had a cat named KeeKee and had been thinking about adopting a second.
As soon as she saw Rexie’s story, she knew she’d found the one. The next day, she went straight to meet him at the shelter.
The moment she held him in her arms, she knew she wasn’t leaving without him, sharing:
“He is amazing. He already made so much progress at Best Friends, and he keeps getting stronger by the day.”
She quickly learned that Rexie Roo adapts to everything life throws at him. He can even jump onto her bed, though she built him little ramps to help him get down safely.
And the best part? He and KeeKee are inseparable. They nap together, eat together, and play like they’ve known each other forever. Cairistiona said:
“We’re making it work, right now we’re one big happy family.”
She calls him her “wet food connoisseur” and says that despite everything he’s gone through, Rexie Roo is the sweetest, most loving cat she’s ever met, adding:
“Everyone has their own issues. To me, he’s extra special. He has been through so much, and yet he remains the sweetest animal I’ve ever met.”
If you’d like to see more of this adorable, two-legged miracle, check out Rexie Roo’s Instagram. Trust me, once you see him in action, you’ll understand why the internet can’t get enough of him.
