Gelato The Injured Kitten's DIY Wheelchair Is The Sweetest Thing You'll See Today

Sometimes, a wheelchair for a pet can be a top-of-the-line technological marvel costing more than $1,500. Other times, if a combination of creativity and desperation is involved, the price tag might be under $10. When a 4-inch-tall kitten with a spinal injury arrived at Cincinnati Animal Care, unable to stand up or walk around, veterinary assistant Mallory Smith put on her thinking cap and got to work, trying to figure out how to make a wheelchair for a cat. 

The end result? A tiny mobility device constructed out of rulers, duct tape, and zip ties, with a pair of Hot Wheels cars functioning as the wheels. The 1-pound kitten, now named Gelato, was able to start moving around thanks to this unconventional wheelchair. "It was really cute to get to see him kind of have that autonomy," Smith told the Washington Post.

After the animal shelter posted about Gelato and his makeshift wheelchair on social media, netizens fell head over heels in love with both the petite pussycat and the resourceful veterinary assistant. "Cutest little bean ever!" commented one of Gelato's many fans on his Instagram post. "Love the little toy cars as mini-roller skates for a kitten. You have had your thinking cap on! Ingenious!" gushed another person, and a third commented, "This is such a smart way to make a wheelchair that'll adapt with him as he grows." Several people offered to 3D print a wheelchair for the little fuzzball, and Gelato did ultimately get a sleeker black mobility device.

Since cats weigh much less than dogs and move differently, with their flexible spines, wheelchairs for cats must be smaller, lighter, and more nimble than those constructed for dogs. A young kitten like Gelato needs an even tinier wheelchair that can be modified as he quickly grows larger in size. Luckily, he got just that with a custom-made one.

Gelato has been getting stronger, standing unassisted on occasion, and may even be able to walk on his own someday, all thanks to the creativity of one tenacious veterinary assistant. "Creativity at its best!!👏👏👏👏" one netizen commented on the Instagram post, while another wrote, "Every clinic, shelter, and rescue needs people willing to think outside the litter box. Gelato is very lucky indeed. 🎩🐾"

Looking for more inspiring stories about pets who won't slow down just because their legs don't work the same as everyone else's? Check out this rescued paraplegic kitty who spreads joy with the "cutest waddle ever," and this nervous two-legged dachshund who makes his runway debut.