“She required a loving home that appreciated her adorable squished face and recognized her spirited personality.”
Lindsey Hidenrite, who oversees cats at Helping Hands Pet Rescue in Gainesville, Florida, never would have thought to describe Smush as “feisty” when she found the kitten last summer. As a veterinary student at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Hidenrite frequently cares for strays with serious health problems. This was the situation with Smush, who was brought to Hidenrite at just 10 days old after being discovered outside in critical condition.

When Smush was discovered, she was in poor health. She had a cleft lip, facial deformities, and was battling an upper respiratory infection along with a severe case of ringworm. Due to her inability to eat, Hidenrite had to feed her with a syringe every four hours. In addition, she was treated with antibiotics and given regular medicated baths to help with her recovery.

According to Hidenrite, Smush’s cleft lip and wide-set eyes are congenital abnormalities. She explained that there are cases where kittens with deformities are abandoned, possibly because their mother knows she cannot care for them. Sometimes mother cats will reject unhealthy kittens, realizing they may not survive, so they can focus on the rest of the litter.

Fortunately, Smush flourished with Hidenrite’s care and eventually started eating independently. She was then taken in by her foster mother, Laura Braden, who diligently gave her medicated baths three times a week.

Smush showed independence by starting to eat on her own. As she grew stronger, her boldness grew as well, earning her a reputation for being feisty. Braden recalled how she was a handful right from the beginning. Despite his efforts to keep Smush contained while she recovered from ringworm, she proved to be quite the escape artist, climbing over any barrier in her way. Ultimately, Braden gave in and gave her free rein of a whole room.

When animals are orphaned at a young age, they miss out on important social skills taught by their family. It is during these early months that they learn how to interact with others. For example, a kitten raised by its mother learns through correction when play becomes too rough. The kitten doesn’t mean harm, it simply hasn’t yet grasped the distinction between playful behavior and hunting instincts.

Shannon Jackson, a seasoned foster parent for kittens, was on the receiving end of Smush’s affectionate nibbles. Shannon recognized that Smush deserved a forever family that appreciated her adorable squished face and spirited personality. “She required a loving home that embraced her unique features and accepted her spunky nature,” Shannon expressed.

Laura Braden and Lindsey Hidenrite played a crucial role in giving Smush a new lease on life. They were overjoyed to see Smush thriving in her forever home.

Shannon Jackson, along with her wife, Sarah Jenne, came across Smush on Hidenrite’s personal Facebook page. Despite not having any prior discussions about adoption, they were drawn to Smush. Jenne was still mourning the loss of her treasured cat, Poot. Jackson recalls how Jenne would always mention wanting “a kitten” whenever asked about her desires for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any special occasion.

Shannon Jackson and Hidenrite struck up a friendship as Jackson started taking photos of rescue animals at Helping Hands Pet Rescue. Jackson was impressed by Hidenrite’s dedication to helping those in need, especially Raisin, a unique cat who was recently highlighted in an article by The Dodo.

Celebrating adoption with Shannon and Sarah, two loving mothers.
| By Shannon Jackson

Jackson mentioned that Sarah’s birthday was approaching, so he decided to reach out to Lindsey to inquire about Smush’s availability. Hidenrite responded that Smush was indeed available but warned that she had quite a feisty personality. She then suggested that the couple consider bringing Smush home for the week to see how they would all get along.