My name is Qwirkle **Special Needs**!

Thanks for your interest in a pet from A.R.F.! If you see a pet here, they are still available for adoption and you should apply through our adoption application on our website at  https://www.arf-il.org/adopt/application/  

This sweet little girl is looking for the most special of adopters to give her an amazing forever home. I’m not going to lie, there’s a little more effort involved in her care since she suffers from a pretty severe case of Cerebellar Hypoplasia, but I promise you, she is worth it! There is just something so endearing about these special babies. Just meet her and you’ll see for yourself. An adopter with experience caring for a CH kitty would be ideal, but certainly not required.

First things first….what is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?? Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) is a non-contagious, non-progressive neurological disorder that affects a cat's balance and coordination. It's caused by underdevelopment of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls limb movements, trunk positioning, and balance.  It will never get better, or worse, and she isn’t in any pain. She can live just as long as any “normal” cat. And, despite her disability, she can live a great life.

So here’s her situation: Qwirkle is not currently able to stand. We’ve been doing some physical therapy and exercises to strengthen her muscles, but for now, she’s just not strong enough. Continuation of these exercises may enable her to eventually be able to stand. Qwirkle does do a little bit of scooting. She can use her paws and tail to scoot very short distances. Since she can’t get herself over to the food bowls, she needs to be placed in front of them when she eats. She does have the strength to sit upright and can prop herself up with her front paws. She currently eats both wet and dry food and is a great eater.

Qwirkle also can’t use a litterbox yet. She does well with going to the bathroom on absorbent pads placed under her. Another option is to visit the vet to be shown how to manually express her bladder. And who knows, if she gets strong enough, she may eventually be able to use a litterbox on her own. Since Qwirkle can’t do much self- cleaning, she often needs to be bathed. She enjoys the experience though and it really doesn’t take long. She loves to snuggle while she’s drying off, all wrapped up in a nice warm towel.

As far as her living space, she certainly doesn’t need much room. It is in her best interest to be somewhat contained when she is alone, for her own safety. Since she doesn’t currently move much, the risk of her getting into anything is slim to none, but she shouldn’t be left on a couch or anything similar where she could fall if she starts scooting.

Her care may sound intense, but there’s really not much to it. I work full time, have kids that play sports at night and have other fosters besides her, and I’m able to provide her with everything that she needs. Above all, what she really needs is love. Qwirkle is an extremely affectionate kitty. She has amazing purrs and just loves to be held. She really enjoys being brushed and having her head and chin scratched. She is a great snuggler and can often be found cuddled up with her littermates. She would do great with any aged children, other cats and even very gentle dogs. The more attention that she can get, the better. She gets so excited when she sees people. She whips her tail around and wags it like a puppy. She enjoys looking out the window and enjoying a nap in the sunshine.

Some of the great things about Qwirkle’s condition that may not have occurred to you are that she’ll never scratch your furniture, she’ll never jump up on your counters and she’ll never run away if the door is left open. It would be ideal if Qwirkle had a furry friend in her new home so that she’s not alone. If someone is home with her quite often to give her all of the love that she needs, that works too!

One visit with this amazing baby and you’ll be smitten. To know her is to love her…you’ll see!

We encourage you to consider adopting kittens in pairs!  There are several reasons why Qwirkle would do good with a friend, including:

-Two kittens keep each other entertained - they will play and get all their energy out on each other in time for snuggles with you!

-Having two kittens to play with each other prevents "I'm lonely and bored" behavioral issues.

-Watching two kittens wrestle is quite possibly the cutest thing you will ever see.

-The kittens will teach each other "how to cat" and learn to be more social with humans and people.

-You'll save two lives instead of one!

Qwirkle is microchipped, up to date on all vaccinations, spayed, and litter box trained.

Qwirkle's adoption fee is $165.  Please note A.R.F. does not approve applications for any kitten under 6 months of age to families that live outside of Illinois and/or beyond 100 miles of Wheaton or Glen Ellyn, IL.

If you are interested in meeting Qwirkle, please fill out our  online kitten adoption application at https://www.arf-il.org/adopt/application/ today!

Once your application has been approved, an A.R.F. volunteer will be able to contact you to arrange a meeting.

Thank you for considering a rescue pet from A.R.F.-Animal Rescue Foundation! We are  based in Wheaton, IL and conduct adoption events in the DuPage County area. If you are interested in adopting one of our pets, please submit an adoption application at https://www.arf-il.org/adopt/application/ 

Adoption appointments are scheduled based on the order of applications received, so submit your application early! Submitting an application does not commit you to any animal but does get you a head start with the adoption approval process. Due to a high volume of applications, we are often unable to respond to questions or schedule meetings until your application has been approved. More information about our adoption process can be found on our website here: https://www.arf-il.org/adopt/

As an all-volunteer, foster home-based organization, A.R.F. Animal Rescue Foundation does not have a facility where applicants can visit our animals. Please visit https://www.arf-il.org/events/ for a list of our upcoming adoption events. 

Thank you for choosing to adopt, not shop!