Vet brought a paralyzed kitten to engineering students hoping for help — two weeks later, their brilliant invention sent her chasing things again

When a group of aerospace engineering students was approached to help a paralyzed kitten who had lost mobility, they took it upon themselves to give her hope and joy, succeeding in their mission in just two weeks. The little cat sustained severe injuries from a devastating accident, and her future seemed uncertain. However, when the vet treating her enlisted the help of a couple of engineers, they witnessed a miraculous recovery. On November 21, 2025, Samantha North from Kentucky shared a TikTok video that captured the moment the kitten tested the innovation specially designed for her.

As reported by Newsweek on Saturday, November 29, 2025, North, a sixth-to-12th-grade literacy coach, shared the inspiring story of Tibby, a kitten left paralyzed after a serious car accident. The horrible incident left her with "a crushed pelvis and complete paralysis of her back legs." Despite her condition, Tibby still exhibited a playful spirit, which was quickly noticed by everyone, including the veterinary assisting teacher who was treating the feline. "We soon realized she still had control of her urinary and bowel functions, and was still full of attitude and life," expressed North. Recognizing her determination, the teacher enlisted the help of the school's engineering students to create a solution. North further shared that the veterinary teacher approached the aerospace engineering teacher to see if his class could create a device to help Tibby. Naturally, the engineering students were eager to take on the challenge and designed a custom wheelchair that would give Tibby a second chance at mobility. 

In a touching TikTok clip shared under the handle @snorth00, viewers watched Tibby effortlessly glide across the floor, chasing after keys dangled by the students. The kitten was seen energetically chasing the object at full speed. The wheelchair itself was the result of careful trial and error. North explained, “One major issue was keeping the cat both comfortable and attached to the device. They experimented with four wheels, three wheels, two wheels, and a roller, and finally, two wheels were [sic] best.” She proudly noted that Tibby was “so full of life, and now [she] has a second chance.” 

The experience was not only transformative for Tibby but also deeply educational for the students. North reflected on the lessons learned, saying, “Although it was a tragic issue, we learned an important lesson. When faced with a serious issue, this cat is still a happy kitten. She loves to play and finds ways to do things around her disability.” The heartwarming video left an impact on the internet users, garnering more than 3.2 million views since being posted online. Many users also left kind messages in the comment section. @prismmprincess wrote in reference to the students, "The best use of their skills." @handyandyms0123 remarked, "The way she went from hesitating to zoom. Thank you so much to everyone who helped give this little baby this tool to help change her life for the better." @muhreenuuhhhh exclaimed, "She’s playing so hard, I'm sobbing." 

For more interesting content, follow @snorth00 on TikTok.