Cyrus and Nova are two gray kittens who were taken to Saving Stevie, a cat rescue in Nashville, Tennessee. They walked a bit unsteadily and loved to cuddle right away.
The two kittens, Cyrus and Nova, were born to a stray cat along with two other siblings in a countryside area. Later, they found shelter in a family’s barn. Brianna Barker, a volunteer who fosters animals for the rescue, noticed that Cyrus and Nova were different from their siblings right from the start.
The people who found the kittens contacted Saving Stevie, hoping they could help the kittens grow healthy. The rescue gladly took them in and quickly found foster homes for them.
They were instant cuddle-bugs when they arrived in foster care
Both Cyrus and Nova have a condition called Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH), which affects their nervous system. It’s not something that gets worse over time, and it doesn’t hurt them. Saving Stevie explained that this condition usually happens when the mother cat gets sick with panleukopenia while pregnant, and it passes to the kittens before they’re born.
Brianna was asked to take care of Cyrus and Nova, the wobbly kittens, while another volunteer looked after their two siblings. Brianna said, “Cyrus and Nova were the first special-needs kittens I fostered, and I’m really grateful Saving Stevie trusted me with them.”
“When I first got them, Cyrus and Nova were a bit scared, but they felt better after the car ride home and settling in for the night,” Brianna said. The brother and sister got used to living indoors very quickly. Right from the beginning, they were determined to enjoy every day and didn’t let anything get in their way. If they fell down, they just got back up and kept going, like pros.
Cyrus is full of energy and loves causing mischief. He gets really excited when he’s with people and always wants their attention for playing and cuddling.
“As soon as he spots people, his head starts wobbling, which is typical for cats with CH, and he rushes over to them. He’s super friendly, loves being held, and starts purring loudly right away,” Brianna told Love Meow.
Cyrus stood up on his four paws like a champ
“Cyrus has figured out how to hop around to get where he wants to go faster. He’s always cheerful and carefree.”
“Nova is a gentle and loving kitten who loves being close to people. She adores being cuddled, pampered, and rocked to sleep. She’s known as the cuddly sweetheart in the house, and she proves it every day.”
Watch Cyrus and Nova in this cute video:
“Nova finds it a bit harder to move around than Cyrus because her back legs don’t move as easily. But that doesn’t stop her from chasing him and having fun playing.”
“Brianna made a special play mat with toys attached for Nova, so she can play comfortably. Nova loves swatting at plush toys whenever she sees them, showing off her playful side.”
“Cyrus and Nova have always been determined to grow, learn, and have fun. They don’t realize they’re any different from other cats.”
“When they first came to their foster home, they settled in right away and felt like they belonged there. It was as if they had always been part of the family from the moment they started walking.”
They happily walk over to their humans to get attention, pets, and playtime, acting like there’s no end to their fun. When they’re held, they enjoy curling up into a cozy ball and cherish every moment spent with their humans.
“When I saw how comfortable they were with me and how they were growing and learning in the special area I made for them, I knew I wanted to keep them forever. These adorable wobbly kittens completely stole my heart,” Brianna told Love Meow.
Just about a week ago, Cyrus and Nova finished their time in foster care and now live permanently with Brianna.
“Without a doubt, they will be loved and cared for every single day of their lives,” Saving Stevie said.
