Cats
Paralyzed Rescue Kitten Gets Homemade Wheelchair
This determined rescue kitten won’t let anything stop him from going on adventures.
Rachel Shapiro
12.14.18

Meet Rocky: a sweet paralyzed cat who won’t let anything stop him from living the life he wants!

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

When Rocky was a kitten, his cat mom brought him to a worksite filled with machinery. For unknown reasons, Rocky’s mom carried him to the top of a machine, and then she dropped him fifteen feet to the ground and left him.

One of the workers at the site saw Rocky fall, and he quickly went to help him. The worker’s heart melted when he saw the little kitten.

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

The worker called his wife, Dawn Firestone, and told her about the kitten. She immediately told him to bring the cat home.

“He was full of grease, barely gasping for air every five seconds or so,” Dawn told Inside Edition. “My husband’s like, ‘You’re a very emotional person. If I bring him home and he passes away, you’ll be in bed for a week.’”

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

Dawn took Rocky to the vet, where she learned his spine had been injured in the fall, paralyzing him. But even though Rocky was going through a rough time, he was still a curious and friendly cat.

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

Dawn wanted to help Rocky get around more easily, and so she decided to build him a custom wheelchair.

From the first moment Dawn put the wheelchair on Rocky, he loved it! He enjoyed zooming around the house, chasing Dawn and his Husky sister. Dawn shared a heartwarming video of Rocky zooming around on his new wheels on Instagram.

Even when Rocky isn’t in his wheelchair, he’s still able to get around. The determined cat will push himself along on his front legs, going wherever he wants to go. He’s even able to go down the stairs in his house—Dawn was so proud of him!

View this post on Instagram

Look at him !!!!🎉🎉🎉first time coming down the stairs ( or should i say , first time i allowed him to come down the stairs ) and he did AMAZING !!! He hasn’t gone up by himself yet , i always hold his back end straight to allow him to be able to kick off with his legs which helps him climb up every step ! I really need to just let him problem solve and allow him to learn his own way of going up but it’s super hard to watch ur baby struggle and try and NOT help ( I’m beyond over protective w all my kids,, no rush ) but I’m beyond proud of him coming down soo great !!! Ps i follow lots of special needs babies and while some people who don’t have special babies may be super nervous seeing rocky go up and down steps , just know he’s ok and he does least adventurous stuff out of all the special kittens i follow ( thank god because i would have a heart attack if he was more adventurous ) #steps #onestepatatime #proudmom #myboy

A post shared by Rockyonwheels (@rocky_onwheels) on

Dawn says that Rocky has always been a gentle cat. He loves cuddling more than anything else, and he has never so much at hissed at Dawn on her husband.

“He’s never hissed, never bitten, never taken claws out,” Firestone said. “He loves to just cuddle into me.”

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

Dawn hopes that Rocky’s story will show people why adopting special needs cats is so great.

“People [say] he’s so lucky you’re the one that found him because anyone else would have put him to sleep,” Dawn said. “It’s all handling and love, and the love I get back is beyond ridiculous.”

Rocky_onwheels via Instagram
Source:
Rocky_onwheels via Instagram

Rocky is an incredible cat who won’t let anything stop from doing what he wants! If you’d like to learn more about Rocky, check out the video below. If you want to see more cute photos and videos of Rocky, check out his Instagram page.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:
To learn more read our Editorial Standards.
Advertisement