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Little rare kitten Henrietta was born with a lot to love…in the form of 2 extra legs that is!!! Not only has she begun to grow the additional limbs as she’s aged, but she is also a female ginger cat which happens only about 33% of the time in the ginger tabby world.

Photo: www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Her mother Bridget, was dropped off at a shelter in May 2018 as a VERY pregnant cat found wandering the streets.

The Feline Friends Charity in North East England were happy to help the poor mama. When she gave birth to 4 kittens on May 28th, sadly two didn’t survive and one was born with twisted leg syndrome. This can happen when the legs are pressed up against something in the womb, or with large litters of kittens “smooshed” together.

Photo: www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Due to the statistical unlikelihood that the ginger baby was female and with the twisted legs, “he” was named Henri. This was a nod to a French artist with short legs named Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

In a surprising turn of events (cough cough NO trouble nuggets), the ginger turned out to be female and was renamed Henrietta.

Volunteers at the shelter began working with the fragile infant and massaged her legs every 3 hours in an attempt to straighten out her legs as she grew. It was then they noticed that she had 2 little skin tags on the inside of each back leg, but thought nothing of them.

Until they began growing paw pads and claws!

Photo: SWNS.com

After a visit to the vet, they determined that indeed the 2 growths were actually additional legs. They believe that perhaps she had been a conjoined twin in the early developmental stages but this was all that remained.

Photo: Will Walker-North News 3 / GoFundMe page

Her twisted legs had now been straightened after the dedicated staff worked tirelessly with her.

There was no sign that they’d ever had an issue at all and she can jump, play and romp with her tortie sister Lucy like any other kitten. She has no issues with the litter tray either and besides her extra “jelly beans” is purrfectly healthy!

But little baby Henrietta will require surgery to eventually remove the extra legs and funds to continue her physical therapy. The limbs are continuing to grow each week and will inhibit her later in life if they remain.

Photo: Will Walker-North News 3 / GoFundMe page

The small organization had no clue how they were going to pay for their little girls operations, so they began fundraising on their website and social media pages.


In about 2 weeks they were able to raise over $3,000.00 from their generous supporters!

This would be enough for Henrietta’s surgery, x-rays and overnight vet monitoring.

They are keeping the fundraiser open and anything additional that is donated they assure everyone will go to their many other deserving cats and kittens in need. Since Henrietta’s announcement, they have received 2 more momma cats who will need their help with the growing families. 

Photo: www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Henrietta will be fixed when she is around 5 months old and they will complete the surgery on her legs at the same time. This way she does not have to undergo multiple surgeries in her young life.

So for now, Henrietta goes about her daily routine just as normal as any 3 month old kitten can be.

Photo: www.chroniclelive.co.uk

She loves snuggling with her foster mom, Pat Dryden. The young kitten has been picked up by humans since the day she was born. She loves her human contact and will be sure to be someones snuggly lap-cat one day!

UPDATE MARCH 2019

The amazing story of the 6-legged-kitten spread far and wide last year. Which meant that the organization was able to raise the funds for Henrietta’s surgery! 

On November 25th, 2018, her Facebook fans were treated to some wonderful news. 

Henrietta is now home from the vet and, to her delight, she has just four legs instead of six!

The operation, performed by Jonathan Deacon at Moorview Referrals, went very smoothly, and Henrietta was spayed at the same time as her extra legs were removed.

Back at her foster home, Henrietta began the healing process with a bit of extra help. She had made a wonderful furry best friend named Lucy who was right by her side. Her scars began to heal and she had no issues during her recovery. 

Photo Facebook: Feline Friends Charity Wallsend

The two girls were happy to play without a care in the world–and nothing hindering Henrietta.

They were just two bouncy, goofy, energetic kittens. But both needed to find furever homes. 

Little Lucy, Henrietta’s sister, was also spayed and she is also doing extremely well, eating loads, playing with her sister and really looking forward to Christmas.

But what better news could there have been than ANOTHER holiday miracle for the little girls? They were both able to find purrfect furever homes for the holidays! Oh wait, did I say homes? I meant HOME…together! 

Both girls have now found their Forever Home, together, where they will be loved and cherished and cared for ‘Furever’!!

It was just what Pat and the Feline Friends had wanted for the special girl all along.

Without the help of the world, they know it may not have happened. 

Thank you so very much for your kindness and generosity. Without all the donations we have received, Henrietta’s operation would not have been possible. Thanks to everyone who has donated, Henrietta now has just four legs instead of six, and she can get on with her life, just like any other little cat.

So, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!

Photo Facebook: Feline Friends Charity Wallsend

 

 

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