When Caitlin Cusack learned during her pregnancy that her daughter, Ivy, would be born with a cleft lip and possible cleft palate, she and her husband faced the news with determination. Though clefts are common and treatable, the initial diagnosis was daunting for the first-time parents. But as a special education teacher, Cusack immersed herself in research, gaining confidence with each new piece of information.
“Once the shock wore off, we had so much time to prepare,” Cusack told Daily Paws. “We were able to show up to her delivery with specialized bottles and everything we might need.”
Ivy was born happy and healthy in 2019. By 18 months old, she had undergone successful corrective surgeries and developed a deep love for cats—real or stuffed. The family already had an adult cat but considered adopting a playful kitten to match Ivy’s energy. That’s when a friend shared a post from the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) about a gray tabby named Sargent Pepper.
Two details stood out: First, the name—a nod to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band—delighted Cusack’s Beatles-loving husband. More meaningfully, the kitten had been born with a cleft lip and palate, just like Ivy.
“I’d seen stories about animals with clefts, but I didn’t know how common it was,” Cusack said. “When my best friend shared that photo, it felt like a sign.”
PAWS funded Sargent Pepper’s corrective surgeries, and today, the kitten is as healthy as his new best friend. The two share an instant bond, cuddling and playing together. “Sargent Pepper’s favorite spot is on the back of the couch,” Cusack said. “Ivy climbs up, lays down, and rests her head on him.”
Their connection also helped PAWS secure a $25,000 grant through the Petco Love Stories campaign, which highlights extraordinary adoption tales. Selected as a winner on Dec. 1, 2021, their story underscored the shelter’s mission to rescue and rehome animals in need.
As Ivy grows older, Cusack hopes Sargent Pepper will help her understand she’s never alone. “Someday, she’ll process her journey more deeply,” Cusack said. “Knowing she has a buddy who’s been through the same thing—that’s huge.”
For the Cusacks, this tiny tabby isn’t just a pet—he’s family, a living reminder that differences can create the strongest bonds.
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