A disabled cat’s birthday celebration has touched the hearts of many online, showing the deep bond between pets and their owners.
Photos shared on Reddit Monday by a friend of the cat’s owner, under the username u/FoQualla, show Maxine, a calico cat, surrounded by balloons and gifts. Maxine looks happy as family and friends gather to celebrate her third birthday.
Joseph, the poster, told Newsweek that Maxine’s owner, Erin, is “the world’s biggest cat lover.” She actively helps homeless cats in her South Philadelphia neighborhood. Joseph said Erin is involved in trap and rescue, cat adoption, and protects feral cats nearby.
Maxine has several birth defects that affect her mobility. She also recently lost an eye due to illness. Although Maxine is three years old in human years, she is about 28 in cat years, which age differently than humans.
Experts at Pet MD explain that cats reach the equivalent of 15 human years in their first year and 24 by their second. After that, each cat year equals about four human years.
If a cat’s birth date is unknown, vets can estimate age by checking teeth, coat, muscle condition, and eye health. Older cats may groom less and develop cloudy eyes due to joint pain.
The birthday post quickly went viral on Reddit, gaining over 67,000 upvotes and more than 670 comments. One user said, “Look how proud kitty looks, surrounded by gifts. They definitely know they’re royalty!” Another shared an emotional story of losing their own cat and feeling comforted seeing Maxine’s love.
The touching party shows how much joy and care pets inspire, especially those with special needs.
Related topics:
