Published Feb 7, 2025
RSPCA / rspca.org.uk
Sometimes, the biggest love comes in the tiniest package. And sometimes, the animals and people overlooked for superficial, cosmetic reasons have the most personality and love to give.
This sweet story about a disfigured, undersized kitten in the U.K. with one eye, one nostril, and a cleft lip has us going “Aaaaawwww” because it has a very happy ending.
Benny, the buff tabby runt of his litter, came into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) along with his littermate named Teddy. The kittens were either stray or abandoned, brought in by a Good Samaritan rather than shelter employees. Poor Benny had an obvious disadvantage: He is about four times smaller than his brother, and he has only one eye, half a nose, and a cleft lip. But, thankfully, the RSCPA’s vet examined him and said Benny was in good health despite his limitations. The kittens were sent to a foster home for awhile.
And as it turned out, a big-hearted family that has a soft spot for cats with special needs saw a Facebook post about Benny and Teddy. The couple – Sam Dye and Hannah Grimwood – fell in love with the babies before they even met the kittens. Adopting Teddy and Benny felt meant-to-be.
“We knew we had to have them!” Sam and Hannah told the RSPCA. “They looked lovely and like they would fit in well with our other cats.”
Benny “and his brother Teddy have found the PERFECT home with a couple who have adopted a whole group of needy cats,” Emily Stott, spokeswoman for the RSCPA, told Newsweek.
Indeed, Sam and Hannah took home Benny and Teddy to join three cat siblings. Charlie is a 7-year-old female. Tony and Merlin are both rescues, and Tony is completely blind. Sam told Newsweek that part of Benny’s appeal was his compatibility as a buddy for Tony, since they both have eye disabilities.
The introduction went smoothly, Sam said.
“The first night, everyone kept to themselves,” she wrote to Newsweek. “Benny and Teddy stuck together, and Tony and Merlin and Charlie kept away. But within 24 hours, Tony, Merlin, Benny and Teddy were all playing and getting along well together. By the third day, Tony was helping take care of Benny and cleaning him.”
Benny is living his best life despite his disabilities, and in fact, Benny is the most active out of the household’s five cats, his adopter says. He does have some minor difficulties, though, like with depth perception, which presents a challenge when jumping up on the bed. Benny’s lone nostril also gets blocked up frequently, so his humans have to wipe his nose and endure feline snoring.
Now about 7 months old, Benny and Teddy are a bonded pair and the best of friends, and the youngsters are thriving. Benny is still small for his age, and he will always be a small cat – but, he is still healthy.
“I think he will always be on the smaller side, but he can out-eat all the cats,” Sam said to Newsweek. “He’s always first for food and last to leave, making sure the bowl is empty before moving onto the next bowl!”
All five of the household cats sleep together in the same bed, so it’s the proverbial one big, happy family.
Siyanight / Shutterstock.com
This sweet story serves as a reminder that cats with disabilities can still live wonderful lives, if people will give them a chance. I know from experience how well cats with limited vision can do: I recently fostered a totally blind shelter cat named Quincy, and he just somehow figured out where everything was in the room and. LBenny, Quincy was living his best life.
We wrote about one kitten, Toto, who also faced significant challenges with his eyes, which had no eyelids. Thanks to skin grafts, a veterinarian created new eyelids for Toto, and he is healing. According to Toto’s page on Petfinder, both he and his brother, Mr. Jones, were adopted together! That is wonderful news.
We hope you will consider choosing the kitten or cat who looks different and has a disability when you are ready to adopt your next feline. They will return the love exponentially. First, read our article about what you need to know before adopting a disabled cat.
May many more Bennys out there find their happily ever after!
