The DiPaolo Cats: Spreading attention for Pets with particular needs

I met Joe and Lauren DiPaolo and cat Mac at Cat Camp this year. far and wide the leashed kitty went, crowds adopted. That's nothing new for probably the most particularly abled DiPaolo tom cats, as their Instagram account @littleman_mika has more than 142k followers. The DiPaolos are advocates for particular-wants cats and use @littleman_mika to carry focus.

The special-needs DiPaolo Cats

Their existing crew of cats contains Little Man, who has cerebellar hypoplasia; Mika, who has microphthalmia in both eyes; Mac — featured on Jackson Galaxy's Animal Planet section "My Cat from Heaven" — has cardiomyopathy, megaesophagus, eye herpes, a cleft palate and half a nostril; Leela has microphthalmia in one eye; YoYo — the blind baby — has microphthalmia; and Selita, who is lacking her two back legs and most of her tail.

How Lauren acquired all started in Rescue

Born right into a household of non-cat people, 6-12 months-ancient Lauren persuaded them to let her beginning rescuing cats. "At age 15, I crossed paths with two special-wants cats that necessary homes," Lauren explains. "I couldn't agree with how instantly people felt that that they had no best of lifestyles or should be euthanized just on account of a missing leg, deafness or a coronary heart murmur."

Adopting both cats, from that day ahead her mission to prove that "distinct" is ok grew to be correct priority. Lauren says husband Joe — who wasn't a cat adult once they met — is now the ideal Cat Dad.

What's subsequent for the DiPaolos

Lauren, Joe and their cats have accomplished cat-centric shows like Cat Camp and Kittydelphia to television suggests like respectable Morning the us, Dr. ouncesand Fox & pals. And, they've high hopes for the longer term. "Joe and i love seeing how the views on particular-needs pets have changed," says Lauren, "and hope to sooner or later be in a position to open our own special-wants rescue."

help spread the word and observe the DiPaolos and their cats on fb and on Instagram.

Editor's observe: this article regarded in Catster journal. have you ever seen the new Catster print journal in outlets? Or within the ready room of your vet's workplace? Subscribe now to get Catster magazine delivered straight to you! 

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