Rescued cat is cuddly despite ‘all he’s been through.’ Now, he gets a second chance
A loving cat in need of medical care was rescued — then came more good news.
Pogue, who can’t walk on his hind legs and lost part of his tail, has been adopted in South Carolina.
“Our team was overjoyed to see Pogue find his family,” Kay Hyman, spokesperson for the Charleston Animal Society, told McClatchy News in a March 7 email. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness animals that have received extensive medical and emotional support from our team get adopted and have the opportunity to live their best lives.”
Pogue is settling into his new home after a good Samaritan found him near a McDonald’s restaurant. The rescuer brought him to an emergency clinic, and a veterinary team discovered that his hind legs hadn’t formed properly at birth.
“This affectionate 3-year-old tabby was born with a congenital deformity that makes him unable to use his hind legs,” the shelter wrote March 6 in a Facebook post. “Part of his tail was amputated after it was discovered he had previously fractured it.”
Before Pogue arrived at the shelter, veterinarians believe he broke his tail in a “traumatic event.” Though his tail was hurting him before it was removed in February, workers don’t think his ongoing leg condition is painful.
A video shared online shows Pogue using his front paws to scoot across the floor. In the captions, the shelter said he “won’t give up” and has adapted to moving around on two legs.
“In spite of all he’s been through, Pogue hasn’t slowed down one bit,” the animal organization wrote. “He is as cuddly and filled with purrs as any cat you’ll ever meet.”
Pogue’s story received dozens of reactions on social media. The day after it was posted, the shelter shared the heartwarming news that he got a new owner.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Rescued cat is cuddly despite ‘all he’s been through.’ Now, he gets a second chance."
