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Woman saved disabled cat that walks like a kangaroo from euthanasia — planning only to foster, but never expected what came next

Due to her disability, the vet believed the cat wouldn’t have a good quality of life and was scheduled to be euthanized.

BY PAHUL NANRA

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

(L) A vet with a kitten. (R) A woman kissing her pet cat. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) ilkermetinkursova, (R) Anna Blazhuk)

Sometimes, the right soul walks, or hops, into your life when you least expect it. That’s exactly what happened to Paget Williams, who shared her story on TikTok under the handle @pagetwilliams. What started as an ordinary day at work quickly turned into a life-changing moment for both her and a very special cat. When Williams extended help to save a disabled cat from euthanasia, she had no idea the tiny stray would change her life in return.

An individual holding a cat while sitting on the bed (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Helena Lopes) — An individual holding a cat while sitting on the bed. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Helena Lopes)

As reported by Newsweek, Williams first met the cat in 2022 while working at an animal clinic in Calgary, Canada. The cat was a stray, with no known history, and had a rare condition called radial hypoplasia, which causes underdeveloped front legs. Because of this, she moved around using her back legs, similar to a kangaroo. Due to her disability, the vet believed the cat wouldn’t have a good quality of life and was scheduled to be euthanized. But Williams saw something different. “My heart broke for her. She was so thin, just skin and bones,” she said. “But the moment I pulled her out of the kennel, she was purring so loudly and loved being pet."

Female vet doctors are examining a domestic cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | ArtistGNDphotography)

Moved by her spirit, Williams took the cat home that very night and named her Rue, short for kangaroo. At first, she thought she would just foster Rue until a permanent home could be found. But that plan quickly changed when the duo "instantly fell in love." Rue fit right in and bonded with her new canine brother, Finjamin. Williams added, “I wasn’t planning on adding another pet since I was in school, but euthanasia simply wasn’t an option.” To her surprise, Rue didn’t require any extra care and quickly proved herself to be fast, playful, and full of life. She adapted quickly, walked confidently, even on all fours when needed, thanks to her healthy weight now, which provides enough support and padding.

A pitbull dog hugging a kitten. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Westend61) — A pitbull dog hugging a kitten. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

Rue’s story has touched hearts far beyond her new home. Rue's journey went viral on TikTok with over 694.9K views and more than 144K likes since being posted. The caption read, “You deserve all the love in the world, my little Rue.” Social media users flooded the comments with love and support, thanking Williams for giving Rue a second chance. @mewlimah expressed, "God bless your beautiful soul." @sun.era.a recounted her experience, "You’re a hero! I also rescued our cat that was to be euthanized. He was 1, now turning 16."

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@nema1952 wrote, "This has to be the cutest cat I've ever seen." @emilielacenaire shared, "I miss my little t-rex baby. Her name was Peanut, and she had the same condition!" Williams was overwhelmed by the positive response she received from her viewers. "I knew Rue would capture hearts,” she said, "but I never expected so many kind and encouraging messages. For me, there was never any question, and saving her was the only option."

For more inspiring rescue cat content, follow @pagetwilliams on TikTok.