In search of a home: Meet the rescue kitten who can't straighten her head

A kitten brain damaged at birth has been growing strong in the hands of a cat charity after her mother was rescued from the streets of Wakefield.

Peanut was just days old when she and her two siblings along with mum Ebony were found living in a greenhouse in Normanton.

The cat family was offered shelter by Yorkshire Cat Rescue where centre manager, Sam Davies, noticed that something wasn’t quite right with baby Peanut.

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She said: “Peanut’s little head tends to twist to the right. Initially we hoped that we could straighten her out with a bespoke exercise regime but sadly, she is suffering from a neurological disorder called cerebellar hypoplasia.

“This is a condition we see about once a year. It is caused either during pregnancy or by difficulty during labour – something sadly vets cannot help with when kittens are born outside. The degree of neurological damage varies and we will see how much it affects Peanut as she grows up”

Straight after being rescued, Peanut and her family settled in with her foster carer Sue Greenwood who’s been watching the tiny kitten grow stronger by the day.

She said: “Although Peanut has a neurological problem, she’s keeping up with her siblings. She is feeding well and weighs the same as her two brothers. She’s started to explore her surroundings and although she’s a bit more wobbly than the others, she has the same energy and taste for adventure.

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“Although her head generally tilts to the right, she can hold it straight when she stands up. It was tough to watch her struggle at first but Peanut is the furthest thing from unhappy. She doesn’t know any different and is always full of joy.”

Peanut, her brothers and mother will be available for adoption later this summer. To view her family and other cats currently awaiting their forever homes at Yorkshire Cat Rescue, visit www.facebook.com/groups/catslookingforhomesatYorkshireCatRescue/

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