Cat With Back Legs That Don't Work Figured Out How To Climb Stairs & Now We're Crying
Some cats seem to be born with an extra dose of courage, and Lieutenant Dan is one of those plucky kitties. If you watch a few videos of her (yes, Lieutenant Dan is female), you'll quickly notice that she doesn't seem to realize she has any limitations. The fearless feline with Manx syndrome manages to climb things, play with other cats, and race around the house at top speed, despite the fact that her back legs don't work and she must wear a diaper.
@soccercatmom I get asked all the time why we don't put Lieutenant Dan in a wheelchair. ❤️ The truth is, I never want to put limits on her before she's even had the chance to show us what she's capable of. She may do things differently, and sometimes it takes her a little longer to figure them out, but she continues to amaze me every single day. A wheelchair may absolutely be something we use someday if she needs it, but right now I want her to explore, problem solve, build strength, and learn how to navigate this world in her own way. I want her to grow up believing there is nowhere she can't go and nothing she can't figure out. Today it was the stairs. Tomorrow, who knows. 🥹❤️ #cat #catsoftiktok #manxsyndrome #cats #kitty
In an inspiring TikTok video that's been viewed more than 127,000 times and racked up over 26,000 likes, Lieutenant Dan figures out how to climb up stairs. It's an arduous process, and the black-and-white cat slips several times, but she makes it to the top eventually. Text overlaid on the video explains that Lieutenant Dan's owner must force herself to hold back and let the cat figure things out for herself instead of constantly rushing in to help.
"I get asked all the time why we don't put Lieutenant Dan in a wheelchair. ❤️ The truth is, I never want to put limits on her before she's even had the chance to show us what she's capable of," reads the video's lengthy caption, in part. "A wheelchair may absolutely be something we use someday if she needs it, but right now I want her to explore, problem solve, build strength, and learn how to navigate this world in her own way."
Praise for a gutsy girl
The people of the internet were unanimous in their praise of the determined kitty. "Awwww...such a great moment...we love this little girl so much 🥰," wrote one, and another exclaimed, "Lieutenant Dan gives the world inspiration!!" One person extended the message of the video to humans, writing, "As someone who can't always use their legs, thank you for letting her try. People fuss because they love but nothing says you love someone more than letting them try and supporting them while they do. 😭❤️" Several viewers suggested that the cat's owner should write a children's book about Lieutenant Dan's strength and resilience, and it turns out that one is in the works.
A different video shared on soccercatmom's TikTok feed explains how the vagaries of fate and the cat distribution system led to this pet-lover and frequent foster mom winding up with five cats: "jumping shoulder cat" Pudding; nurturing Poppy, who loves to care for foster kittens; black-and-white Deckster, who was rescued from under a deck while still a kitten; big ginger Red, who was the only survivor from her litter; and sweet Lieutenant Dan. Red and Lieutenant Dan are both adorable foster fails who prove that resistance is futile.
Want to read more stories about cats who don't let their disabilities slow them down? Check out Milly, a rescued paraplegic kitty who spreads joy with the "cutest waddle ever," and Gelato, the injured kitten, whose DIY wheelchair is the sweetest thing you'll see today.