A Tail-less Tale
One-half of today’s Warm Fuzzy Tale doesn’t have a tail, but we think Blake and Tallie’s story is more than warm and fuzzy enough to make up for it!
Meet Blake
All kittens are special, but Blake was born extra special! He has several congenital (present at birth) health conditions; The most visible one is his lack of a tail, caused by missing spinal bones. A radiograph taken by our medical team also revealed that Blake’s spine is abnormally curved–a condition called scoliosis, also seen in humans–and some of his vertebrae are fused together.
Blake’s radiograph also indicated underdeveloped hip joints, or hip dysplasia, though he is too young to tell this for sure.
But the most surprising find on Blake’s scan was this: He doesn’t have a right kidney! The kidneys help to clean the blood of waste, but fortunately, only one kidney is required for the body to function normally.
Above, left: Blake’s radiograph shows extreme curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and a missing right kidney.
Above, right: The only noticeable difference between Blake and other kittens is Blake doesn’t have a tail!
So how much do these unique discoveries affect Blake’s day-to-day lifestyle? As it turns out, very little! In fact, Blake behaves and plays much like any other kitten. His absolute favorite pastime is cuddling, whether it’s with a human or feline buddy.
Meet Tallie
Blake has three sisters: Sally and Callie–who were adopted together, and Tallie, who was adopted with him. Tallie has no known health complications like Blake, but their personalities are nearly identical! Like her brother, Tallie adores being held and snuggled. You will often find her purring contentedly on somebody’s lap.
Blake and Tallie are two peas in a pod, full of love for one another and for the whole world. We’re pleased to share that this love has only grown since they were adopted in early January of this year.
Above: Blake (left) and Tallie (right) have always been affectionate and social, starting back when they were in foster care.
Blake & Tallie in Their New Home
“They have adjusted incredibly well (and quickly) to their new home over the last few weeks,” Blake and Tallie’s adopter told SAFe. “Adapting to their new environment and two young children who constantly pick them up has been absolutely no problem to them.”
In fact, Blake and Tallie’s family is so impressed with their socialization, they requested a shout-out to the foster home responsible for taking care of them before they were adoption-ready.
“Whoever fostered Blake and Tallie did a phenomenal job,” they say. “The early kitten weeks are so important for development and social skills, and it shows that they were treated with so much kindness.”
Due to Blake’s unique situation, his adopter is working with a vet to coordinate regular check-ups every six months. Meanwhile, Blake has found his new favorite hobby: keeping his human company while he cooks!
“They are the kindest, cuddliest, most fun kitties a family could ask for,” their family reports. “They are little purr machines and are so closely bonded that they do everything together – always cuddling, sleeping, and playing together. We’re happy we could keep them together.”
Above: Blake is lucky to have his sister Tallie to show off “happy tail” on his behalf!
Blake and Tallie are thriving thanks to SAFe’s community — from the tireless efforts of the medical team to our devoted foster homes, not to mention the caring adopters who took the pair home to stay! At every step of their journey, Blake and Tallie found kindness and warmth, and we are so thankful for everyone who brought us this Warm Fuzzy (semi-tailless) Tale!
