Published Feb 9, 2025
When Dawn Firestone’s husband brought her an injured kitten from the construction site he worked at, she vowed to keep and spoil him if only he’d live. Now, the two are attached at the hip!
The cats who came before him
Before Rocky, Dawn and her husband rescued an estimated six or seven litters of kittens from his work site, which was full of feral cats. He brought them home once they were old enough to be away from their mothers, and the couple fostered them, paid for their vet care, and adopted them out.
Then, they found Rocky. While they expected his rescue to end the same, he soon captured Dawn’s heart.
A terrible accident
Rocky’s cat mom was just a kitten herself. Dawn’s husband suspected he needed more care than she could provide, as she kept leaving him alone despite his cries for help.
However, Dawn knew it was best for a kitten to stay with their mother if possible. She decided that they’d give it more time.
The next day, Dawn’s husband watched as Rocky’s mother climbed onto a machine with him in her mouth and accidentally dropped him. The poor kitten fell 15 feet before hitting the ground, injuring his already fragile body.
Rocky’s injuries
Dawn’s husband called her immediately and she told him to leave work. She knew she needed to help this cat!
When she saw Rocky for the first time, he was barely breathing. His tongue was out and his umbilical cord was still attached, meaning he was very young. Dawn held him in front of her car’s heater, trying to warm him up.
The couple still didn’t plan on keeping Rocky, but thought they would nurse him back to health before finding him a forever home. As he grew, they noticed that his hind legs weren’t functioning like they should.
It turned out, Rocky had spinal damage which caused his paralysis. A specialist veterinarian recommended putting him to sleep due to his condition, but Dawn didn’t want him to die just because he was different from the other kittens she’d raised. Rocky was otherwise healthy and happy and she believed he could live a full life.
She tried everything she could to help him, even an American Girl Doll wheelchair so that he could get around more easily. This was Dawn’s first time caring for a paralyzed cat, but Rocky was patient through her many attempts to help.
Glued at the hip
Caring for a special needs cat takes a lot of time and effort, as they often require more attention than other cats. This is the case for Rocky, who goes almost everywhere with his mom. He even sleeps on her bed and accompanies her on flights.
She thinks his disability has aided their bond, as it’s difficult not to love someone you care for around the clock! Rocky wears diapers and uses a wheelchair to get around, or simply drags his hind legs when he’s not using it.
Dawn started Rocky’s social media thinking that he could inspire people, especially children. Though he’s a little different from other cats, he’s just as loved!
