Mochi, a Chinese-born munchkin cat, made her way from China to the United States where she settled with a family in Boston. Unfortunately, she faced health issues like ischemic dermatopathy that affected her ears, tail, and right hind leg. Due to the extent of her medical needs, she was surrendered to MSPCA-Angell, a special rescue shelter.
Despite her physical challenges, Mochi found a loving home with Greg and Natalia, a couple from Boston with a deep love for animals. While both have had pets before, Mochi is their first pet together and they have embraced her unique appearance and disabilities with open arms. Follow Mochi’s adventures on Instagram and TikTok.
Bored Panda recently spoke with Greg McDouglas, the new owner of Mochi, to learn more about her background. Mochi, a munchkin kitten, was originally from China and was purchased by a family in Boston. Unfortunately, she developed a severe illness that resulted in necrosis, prompting her owners to surrender her to MSPCA-Angell rescue shelter. By the time she arrived, her condition had worsened significantly, leading to the amputation of one hind leg, both ears, and her tail, as well as a case of ringworm.
She was given up by her previous owners and taken to MSPCA-Angell, a shelter dedicated to rescuing animals in need of care.
After enduring two months of intensive care from the shelter’s medical team, Mochi made a remarkable recovery despite having to be isolated during this time. Once she was deemed healthy, the shelter put her up for adoption, catching the attention of my wonderful fiancée, Natalia, who has a deep love for animals. Natalia wasted no time in applying to adopt Mochi and was overjoyed when we received the call from the shelter informing us that we had been chosen. Although I tried to maintain a calm demeanor and suggested meeting Mochi first, it was clear from our initial visit the following day that we both instantly formed a bond with her. That memorable day was January 22nd, 2023, and Mochi has been a part of our family for a little over two months now. It’s incredible to think about how far she has come, considering the doctors had to perform amputations on one of her hind legs, both ears, and her tail due to the severe state of her condition.
The doctors at the shelter took care of her for a duration of two months, during which she remained in seclusion.
Later, we wanted to learn more about Mochi’s character and her daily routines in her new environment. Greg shared, “Mochi is incredibly sweet, silly, and lively. She enjoys playing games, especially hide and seek, constantly meows, chirps, and squeaks, and seeks affection through belly rubs, head scratches, and sleeping on Natalia’s head at night. She craves attention, loves socializing with new people, and fearlessly explores her surroundings with curiosity. We adore her and pamper her; bringing Mochi into our lives has brought us immense joy and love.”
After receiving care and recuperating, the shelter made her available for adoption.
When asked about Mochi’s current health, Greg mentioned that they are hopeful she will have a long, happy life, but they need to be cautious with her care. Due to a suspected vaccine reaction, Mochi cannot receive vaccinations. With only three legs, they also need to monitor her weight closely. Despite these precautions, Mochi is healthy and energetic. Natalia and Greg fell in love with Mochi’s listing and promptly applied to adopt her.
The shelter got in touch with them the next day to let them know that they had been selected to bring Mochi home.
The couple wondered about the origin of the adorable name and were informed that it was inspired by Mochi’s resemblance to a vanilla mochi ice cream ball. People often compare her to various animals and objects like an owl, seal, otter, cloud, potato, and ferret. Regardless of the comparisons, they found Mochi beautiful and instantly fell in love with her when they met her the following day.
Given Mochi’s health history, we were curious about how it impacts her daily routine. Greg shared that they make sure her day is stress-free to prevent any potential health issues. Mochi stays indoors, but otherwise roams freely around their home. She typically sleeps with them or in her own cozy bed, and surprisingly, she snoozes quietly at night. In the morning, after breakfast, they have playtime with her when she’s full of energy. When Mochi is in the mood for a game, she playfully meows and tries to engage them in a round of hide and seek. It’s clear that Mochi, a charming and playful kitten, brings joy and liveliness to their home.
Greg elaborated on her daily routine during playtime: “She has quite the amusing routine. Whenever we try to approach her, she playfully dashes off and hides, peeking around corners to check if we’re following. It becomes a game of cat and mouse, with her leading us on a merry chase until she decides she’s had enough and plops down for some belly rubs. She adores head scratches and licking our hands, and she can be found napping all over the house. Her favorite pastime is chasing after the laser pointer, sprinting up and down stairs, and zooming around the house in a zigzag pattern. It’s quite comical to watch her maneuver around like a little snake whenever she runs. She also has a peculiar interest in watching TV with us and eagerly looks forward to her wet food.”
She absolutely loves receiving belly rubs and head scratches, and has a very affectionate nature.
We inquired about any specific care needed for her given her medical background. The owner reassured us, saying that apart from the precautions previously mentioned, she doesn’t require much special attention on a daily basis. She acts just like any other cat and doesn’t seem to realize she’s missing any limbs. She enjoys climbing furniture and even sleeps on Natalia’s head at night!
Mochi is currently 8 months old and her new family thinks she resembles a fluffy vanilla mochi ice cream ball.
Ever since Mochi’s tale went viral on the internet, Greg and Natalia have been basking in the joy of being the proud owners of this famous feline. Greg shared, “We love sharing Mochi’s story because it’s truly remarkable and inspiring. Despite facing numerous challenges, such as her long journey from China and battling illness which resulted in the loss of her limbs, Mochi remains incredibly resilient and full of life. She’s the toughest kitty I’ve ever known, yet she’s still as sweet and loving as ever. Our hope is that Mochi’s story can bring a ray of sunshine to those who may be going through a tough time.”
At the moment, she is doing well and in good health, however, her family needs to take some measures to make sure she stays that way.
Greg concluded by emphasizing the significance of promoting rescue shelters. He highlighted the commendable efforts of organizations like MSPCA-Angell, which provided care for Mochi. Greg urged individuals to show their support for these organizations and their valuable work. Additionally, he encouraged people to consider opening their hearts and homes to rescue pets and disabled animals. Greg emphasized that there are many remarkable and deserving animals in need of love and a forever home, and encouraged potential pet owners to consider adopting a disabled animal.
Running in a straight line proves a bit challenging for her, as she tends to move with a serpentine sway, mimicking the graceful coils of a snake.
Apart from that, she acts just like any other typical cat, enjoying climbing up on the couch, chairs, and bed.
Whenever Mochi is in the mood for some fun, she communicates with her owners by meowing and enticing them to join in her playful activities.
She also enjoys watching TV programs together with Natalia and Greg.
Greg and Natalia are passionate about raising awareness for the incredible efforts of rescue shelters, such as MSPCA-Angell, the organization that lovingly looked after their cherished pet Mochi.
This is why they decided to tell Mochi’s story and spread the message of adopting animals with disabilities.
Our furry friends may require a little more TLC, but they repay us with boundless love and affection in the long run.
According to Greg, bringing Mochi into our family has been an incredible choice that has filled our hearts with love.
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