Girl felt something was off about her cat — the doctor confirmed she's just silly

When a heartbroken owner lost her beloved cat, she just couldn't handle the void, and hence decided to adopt another kitty from a shelter. There, she met Puddles, who goes by @puddlesforbrains on Instagram — the one who stole her heart almost immediately. She was thrilled to finally have someone who could fill the vacuum her previous furbaby had left behind, but what she didn't realize was that Puddles wasn't just any cat. She had a "learning disability."

"We didn't realize she was weird until after we got home," the woman said, as she explained how she initially assumed that Puddles was deaf as she didn't react to loud noises, and remained mostly unresponsive. However, with time, Puddles actually became the "most talkative lady," and the woman realized she wasn't deaf; in fact, the adorable feline could hear even the faintest of sounds from across the house. "Then we thought, maybe it's her vision," the owner said, but even that was ruled out the minute the vet confirmed that Puddles' eyes were perfect. She was just a little "silly." Notably, the feline was rescued as a 6-month-old malnourished kitten with a broken leg, and the woman believed Puddles' condition was possibly a result of some brain injury from the accident. "I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found her; she means the world to me," she said, explaining how, despite her disability, Puddles was the best companion she ever had.

According to a report by Cat Tree UK, though rare, some cats, just like Puddles, can have learning disabilities, affecting their ability to understand commands or routines. But, with proper training and clear communication, pet parents can help their cuddle balls thrive even in such situations. Meanwhile, reacting to Puddle's story, @vikrtreat commented, "I’m dead. My life is complete. I can get off the Internet for the rest of my life. I have now looked at Puddles for brains. I have tears in my eyes and a full heart." A user who goes by @dean on Instagram said, "It’s so amazing that she has a home where she’s perfectly happy and lives a wonderful life even with her silliness! You all are doing a great thing for her." Another user, @uuhhhurmom, wrote, "It honestly didn't cross my mind that a cat could have a learning disability for some reason. Or maybe I never thought of what this would look like. She's such a sweetheart!"

On the other hand, @margots_journey_ shared, "Hi, vet nurse here and fellow cat adorer, your little girl is absolutely wonderful, and I love seeing videos of her. I have never come across an animal with 'learning difficulties' before, in the veterinary field or personally, so the information is eye-opening for me. She definitely seems to exhibit some odd neurological signs, but they are so endearing! What tests have they run on her? Any MRIs? Thank you for rescuing and giving her an amazing, loving home." Echoing the sentiments, @jniconinsta revealed, "When I met my rescue cat, Sammy, I walked by his cage, and he reached his arm out and touched my arm, so I asked to meet him. The rescue staff were shocked because they said he’s skittish and doesn’t like anyone, and I said, 'Well, he picked me, so I’d like to meet him, please.' We’ve been together for 14 years now."

You can follow Puddles the Cuddle Monster (@puddlesforbrains) on Instagram for more cat-related content.