Jimothy The Raccoon Won Hearts Everywhere — Then A Black Cat With The Same Condition Stole The Show

Not too long ago, many may have never heard the name Jimothy. Talk of Jimothy began as the viral 'mutant' raccoon taking Seattle by storm. Then, as the world got to know him, we learned of his likely short spine syndrome that explained this guy's unique build. Well, now it's time to meet Meemers, the adorable cat who, like Jimothy, is "short on spine, and big on personality" according to her Facebook page.

Somewhere in Normal, Illinois, a black cat with short spine syndrome named Meemers roams the streets. That is, when her loving human, shelter worker Katie Dahlen, lets her go outside. Katie told Today that when she found Meemers left in a box outside, she immediately fell in love. Over a year later, the two, along with Katie's husband, live a happy life.

Meemers is only about seven-and-a-half inches long; that's the height of just two apples! But don't let her small size fool you. Lovingly called "Jimothy's cat twin" on Instagram, Meemers is known for being quite social. She loves to be petted and she often responds vocally; her little meows have even been compared to Gary the snail from "SpongeBob SquarePants." Her social media shows her frequent travels in her crate or on a leash, and she clearly loves the outdoors.

Short spine syndrome (or SSS) is a genetic condition that causes an underdeveloped spine, little or no neck, and a visibly crouched posture. Though extremely rare, any mammal can have it. Jimothy's fame has allowed more animals with short spine syndrome to shine, specifically beloved pets like Meemers.

There are only a handful of SSS cases in dogs, and even fewer cats— and many of them are internet famous! There's the German Shepherd named Quasimodo, aka Quasi the Great, and Cooper, a 9-year-old American Foxhound. Then, there's foster siblings Yogi and Yoshi, whose playful Instagram video follows in the footsteps of two other puppies with disabilities as they steal hearts left and right.

If you do happen to have the pleasure of caring for a pet with SSS, be sure to provide accessible spaces and accommodations, as they may have more difficulty moving around. Also, regular cat grooming is important, but possibly difficult or even impossible for cats with SSS. You, their beloved human, may have to step in, as Meemer's parents did in a recent TikTok: "Her head basically sits on her shoulders, making it impossible for her to wear a collar or turn to groom herself," they clarified. Also important to note: As shown by many of these lovely pets, a happy life with SSS is absolutely possible. So, here's to celebrating these incredibly cute, short-spined fur babies.