When Antoni walks, he takes wide, heavy steps—sometimes slipping one way, then the other, sometimes tumbling over completely as his feet scramble in every direction at once. When he eats, his head wobbles back and forth, occasionally missing the food bowl altogether.
Antoni was born with cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), the part of his brain that controls balance and coordination didn’t fully develop before birth. This causes him to stumble and wobble, but Antoni is not in any pain. While CH may choreograph his stumble, it cannot dim his spark. In fact, Antoni barrels through life, just as active, affectionate and playful as any other kitten.
As his foster said, “If you only focus on the way he moves, you’ll miss the way he loves. When I look at him, I see confidence, determination, and pure joy in motion.”
It’s a reminder to take a closer look at an animal that at first glance may have a low quality of life—you might just find a fiercely loving kitten who’s generous with his purr, happy to cuddle and play in equal measures.
While there is no cure or treatment for CH, Antoni does need thoughtful accommodations to thrive. Luckily, we’re no stranger to devising custom accommodations for our animals who need a little something special. Just as in many of our stories, our staff and fosters constantly help us innovate and adapt to the unique situations that come our way.
As a pediatric physical therapist, his foster helps people find adaptations that afford them independence in daily life. She did the same for Antoni: with the help of a woodworking friend, she designed a special feeding stand. It includes a narrow stall for stability and padded sides to gently limit the movement of his head, allowing him to eat with (slightly) more precision.
It’s still a messy process—but a beautiful one. This feeding stand is just one of the many ways Antoni’s foster made his world safer and easier. When Antoni found a home with a new adopter, the feeding stand went with him, a lasting symbol of the care, creativity, and compassion that surrounded him on every step of his journey with us.
Antoni’s story is proof that no animal succeeds alone. It takes fosters, adopters, veterinarians, staff, volunteers—and donors—working together.
Antoni’s story was a part of our 2025 End of Year campaign. You can read more stories from the campaign, among others, in our Stories tag! And of course, you can always be a part of the mission and donate to support stories like these.
