Iowa Woman Adopts The Runt No One Wanted, Then Uncovers The Truth Behind Her Strange Breathing

Mushy the kitten was orphaned at a young age and overlooked by adopters. But one woman saw her potential, eventually uncovering the unique quirks that make this cat so special.

A Life On A Schedule

When a tiny kitten is orphaned before she even has a chance to open her eyes to the world, her survival depends entirely on the kindness of humans. Without a mother to guide her, the earliest weeks of life can be a fragile, uncertain journey.

For one little kitten, those crucial early days were spent relying on round-the-clock care just to make it through. She missed out on the natural comforts of a mother’s warmth, leaving a lasting mark on her personality.

But even though she had a rough start, this little survivor was holding out hope that someone would eventually look past her quirks and give her a forever home.

The tiny kitten was found completely orphaned when she was very small. Rescue workers had to step in immediately to act as her surrogate mother.

She had to be bottle-fed the entire time she was in their care. Caregivers meticulously maintained a strict feeding schedule to ensure she would grow strong.

As she slowly grew up, her rescuers noticed a distinct habit she had developed. Because she wasn’t able to be naturally weaned off from her mother, she loved to suckle on everything she could find.

The Overlooked Runt

Despite her sweet nature, the kitten was struggling to find a family of her own. She was the runt of her litter, making her smaller and perhaps less noticeable than other cats.

One day, a woman was scrolling through Petfinder, looking for a companion. She stumbled across the little cat’s profile and fell in love immediately.

Without hesitation, she put in an adoption application. The rescue coordinator got back to her very quickly with a heartbreaking detail.

There weren’t many people interested in the kitten at all. In fact, this woman was one of the only people who had shown any interest in adopting her.

Meeting Her Match

Eager to give the overlooked kitten a chance, the woman scheduled a time to meet her in person. By this point, the cat was about six months old.

The connection was just as strong in person as it was through the computer screen. She knew right away that this little runt was meant to be hers.

She brought the kitten, now named Mushy, back to her apartment. It was the beginning of a beautiful new chapter, though it came with a few unexpected surprises.

An Instant Sibling Bond

Bringing a new pet into a home that already has an animal can sometimes be a stressful transition. The woman already had a dog living in her apartment.

She carefully introduced the two animals, hoping they would at least tolerate one another. Instead, the reaction was immediate and heartwarming.

The dog and the kitten loved each other right from the start. They quickly became inseparable, prompting their mom to affectionately call them her "babies."

A Comforting Habit

As Mushy settled into her new home, her early kittenhood habits remained strong. Her need to suckle for comfort never really faded away.

Every morning or evening, her mom will simply hold her hand up. Almost immediately, nine times out of ten, Mushy will start suckling on it.

It is a gentle reminder of her difficult beginnings, but also a sign of deep trust. She finally has a safe place where she can seek comfort whenever she needs it.

Concerning Symptoms

While Mushy was settling in emotionally, her new mom noticed that she came with some physical issues. Her breathing didn’t sound quite right.

It sounded a bit stuffy and almost snotty, as if she had a persistent cold. Worried that the kitten had caught a respiratory infection, her mom took her straight to the vet.

They tried one medication, and then another, hoping to clear up her airways. But no matter what they tried, nothing seemed to work, and the stuffy sound remained.

A Surprising Diagnosis

Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, the veterinary team decided to take a closer look. They performed some scans of Mushy’s head to see what was going on inside.

The results revealed something entirely unexpected. Mushy wasn’t sick at all; her facial structure was just remarkably different from a normal cat’s.

Her face is much flatter, lacking the longer snout typical of most felines. The vets concluded that this unique anatomy was attributing to the strange sounds they were hearing.

The Pug Cat

The diagnosis was a massive relief for Mushy’s mom. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her as far as any sickness goes.

Because of her flat face, Mushy simply sounds like a pug when she breathes. It is just another endearing quirk added to her growing list of unique traits.

She goes about her day happy and healthy, completely unbothered by her noisy breathing. Her mom loves her exactly the way she is.

Eyes That Stare Into Your Soul

Mushy’s flat face isn’t her only striking feature. At first glance, she looks like a normal white and brown tabby, but a closer look reveals something uncanny.

Her eyes are much larger than normal and set farther apart, taking up a huge portion of her face. Because of this, she has a tendency to project very human-like emotions.

Her mom jokes that it almost looks like Mushy is judging you, or staring straight into your soul to feel out what kind of person you are. Every guest who visits points out that she is a "weird cat."

But now, at two years old, Mushy is thriving. She may be a little strange, but to the woman who gave the overlooked runt a chance, she is absolutely perfect.