Shelter builds Hot Wheels wheelchair for tiny kitten, gets adopted
A kitten named Gelato, born with a spinal injury, was successfully fitted with a custom wheelchair made from toy car parts by shelter staff. The story gained viral attention, leading to his adoption by a woman experienced in caring for special-needs cats.
Why it matters
This story highlights the impact of creative problem-solving in animal welfare and the role of social media in facilitating successful pet adoptions.
A tiny kitten with an injured back had one problem: the wheelchairs available at his animal shelter were too big for him. The solution came from an unexpected place - toy cars, pieces of cardboard and wooden rulers.Named Gelato, the kitten was brought to Cincinnati Animal Care in Ohio after being found as a stray with an injury to his lower spine that left him unable to use his hind legs. When conventional wheelchairs proved unsuitable for his tiny frame, shelter staff decided to improvise. Their creation, made using Hot Wheels cars and wooden rulers, helped the little kitten move around.The makeshift wheelchair soon attracted attention online, with photographs of Gelato capturing the hearts of people well beyond the shelter.
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