One family in Staten Island, New York has a lot to celebrate.
The DiPaolo family just held a party for their cat Yo-Yo in honor of his 1-year birthday.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ YoYo post party napping and birthday gift for the special boy, a painting by Inga Rausch
But this isn’t your average, crazy cat loving family. Joe and Lauren DiPaolo have found themselves caretakers to 6 amazing cats; all special needs felines.
Now, with their ameowzing cat crew, they are making it their mission to bring awareness of “handicats” and inspire others to adopt these deserving felines. Proving special needs felines are just as capable, loving and playful as any other, their social media sites are flooded with proof.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Just chillin’ together
The oldest of their furry family is Little. He is about 6 ½ years old and has Cerebellar Hypoplasia or CH, a condition that affects his motor skills and coordination. CH it is a non-progressing neurological condition that is not contagious, but Little cannot stand or walk.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Little
Joe and Lauren happily exclaim that Little believes “he is completely normal and that the rest of the crew gets around weird”. He loves attention and will loudly proclaim his desires to his humans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk_lE06nVKk/?taken-by=littleman_mika
Mika is the next in line. The 4 year old blind girl likes to observe the household happenings from the sidelines, commonly photo-bombing their pictures. She doesn’t realize just how photogenic she is!
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Baby Mika
But then when it’s time to play…Mika is right in the center of the fun!
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Mika
Then there is Mac. This handsome 2-year-old holds a special place in their hearts. He was born with a cleft palate, half of a nostril, Cardiomyopathy and has Megaesophagus.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlviQqTn44i/?taken-by=littleman_mika
Mac also gets to join mom and dad at special events to help promote their causes. Here they are at CatCamp 2017 bumping heads with some famous feline supporters!
Photos: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ (clockwise from top) Celebrating CatCamp with host Jackson Galaxy; Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw; and Photographer Andrew Marttila.
Girl Leela is next and they describe her as the “1-year-old badass with 1 eye”. This doesn’t stop her from always being up to something, which she’s usually also recruited an accomplice for.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Leela
The silly girl reportedly likes to open doors, pee in the toilet and the sink is her “happy place”.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Leela
Black beauty Selita is a bit over a year old now and was found missing her back two feet and most of her tail! They will likely never discover what this sweet girl went through, but it hasn’t stopped her from thriving in life.
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Selita
She has bonded quite closely to YoYo and the two are best buds!
Which brings us to the “baby” of the family, YoYo. This ginger survivor just celebrated his first birthday with the family after being saved from the “to be destroyed” list.
Photos: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ YoYo; you’ve come a long way baby!
Joe and Lauren rushed to the shelter just minutes before he was to be euthanized for being blind. Another family had thankfully pulled him from the shelter but were looking for a foster family for the special needs boy.
The DiPaolo’s weren’t planning on keeping YoYo, but you know how it goes in the world of kitty rescue. He wormed his way into their hearts and the hearts of their other cats, bonding with each one of them. He may be the youngest, but he has brought them all closer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkGwGHfnXEZ/?taken-by=littleman_mika
Baby YoYo got to accompany his mom to work at the dance studio. He may not have been the best student, but he sure does have some moves for a blind baby!
The furry family has another fan that loves to shower them with gifts. German artist Inga Rausch has painted the babies and YoYo got his official portrait for his celebration (see first article photo).
Photos and Paintings by Inga Rausch @rausch.inga; (L) Mac posting proudly (R) Mika and her baby self
These cats may not know they are any different from others, but they sure do know they are stunning lookers!!
Photos: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Stunning Mac and painting by Inga Rausch
Be sure to follow the whole family on their Instagram and Facebook pages so you don’t miss a moment of the pure love and joy they take from…and give to…each other! <3
If you’d like to help them out, please visit their Amazon Wish List too!
Come November 2018, there will certainly be more adorable pics and videos as the utterly fantastic furbabies meet their new human sibling, due around Thanksgiving! Congratulations DiPaolo’s!!
Photo: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats
That hasn’t stopped Joe from happily indulging in Father’s Day’s past though <3
Photos: The DiPaolo Cats; @littleman_mika and Facebook: The DiPaolo Cats ~ Father’s Day
The Dodo recently did an amazing video on the family as well that you won’t want to miss!
God bless these wonderful people and the many others like them who have the love and patience to take care of these beautiful kitties !
Thank you and may God continue to place in your hearts the kindness and love that you shower upon these wonderful ones.
You two are very special and wonderful people or purrents I should say and congratulations on your upcoming addition to your family! ?