When Christy first laid eyes on FP, she was just a frail, 1.4 lbs kitten sitting in a shelter cage in Bailey, Colorado.
At the time, Christy already had three cats of her own and three foster cats in her small apartment, so she thought she had reached her limit.
But one of the shelter’s vet techs insisted she had to take the kitten home.
The moment Christy met FP, she knew she couldn’t walk away.
What Christy didn’t realize then was that this tiny tabby would not only capture her heart but also teach her the true meaning of patience, resilience, and love.
FP’s name has an interesting story of its own.
While she was still a foster, the shelter had given her the name Fancy Paws, which Christy didn’t like.
Around that time, she was watching Riverdale and thought the little kitten had the same scrappy energy as the character FP Jones, so she started calling her FP.
Later, when Christy officially adopted her, she gave her the name Fodina Petite, loosely translating from Latin to “Mine Little,” a perfect fit for her delicate frame.
But FP was far from a typical kitten.
She had dwarfism, which made her unusually small, and she was later diagnosed with congenital megaesophagus, a condition not commonly found in cats.
Megaesophagus, or ME for short, means the esophagus doesn’t function as it should.
Instead of pushing food down into the stomach with strong muscle movements, FP’s esophagus acted more like jelly.
The diagnosis explained why feeding her was such a challenge.
For the first 20 months of her life, FP had to be syringe fed while wrapped snugly in what Christy called a “purrito.”
Each feeding took 10 to 15 minutes, and after every meal, FP had to be held upright for more than 20 minutes to prevent food from coming back up.
With three to five meals a day, Christy spent nearly 45 minutes per feeding.
For almost two years, this routine consumed her mornings, afternoons, and evenings.
There were setbacks too.
FP regurgitated frequently due to her severe case of ME, which meant endless laundry days with bedding and clothes needing to be washed multiple times.
But Christy never gave up. She understood that without this careful routine, FP might not survive.
On top of that, FP’s dwarfism made her even smaller than most kittens her age. Testing confirmed her growth hormone levels were far below the normal range.
She also battled a serious fungal and bacterial infection that affected her sinuses and required over a year of medication.
Despite all these obstacles, FP’s spirit never dimmed.
Christy says one of the biggest misconceptions about special needs cats like FP is that their conditions make them unadoptable.
In reality, they are just as deserving of love. Megaesophagus in cats is particularly misunderstood.
Many kittens with the condition are mislabeled as “failure to thrive” because they are small and vomit often, and too many are euthanized before getting a proper diagnosis.
Something as simple as a barium x-ray could make the difference between life and death for those kittens.
FP is living proof that special needs animals can thrive with care and patience.
Despite the time-consuming feeding schedule and the extra medical attention she requires, she has blossomed into a lively, playful, and affectionate cat.
These days, FP loves playing with ball track toys of any kind.
She also has a habit of rummaging through the toybox before proudly presenting them with dramatic meows as if delivering a special gift.
She chases her siblings, stirs up mischief, and never misses an opportunity to show off her cheeky personality.
To Christy, FP is unforgettable. Her resilience and loving nature make her stand out, but it is her sweet little face and boundless energy that truly melt hearts.
“My heart beats with a pawprint on it,” Christy says, admitting she has a soft spot for animals like FP, the ones others might overlook.
What began as a simple foster experience turned into something much deeper.
FP may have come into Christy’s life by chance, but now she is family.
Through endless feedings, medical challenges, and daily care, FP has proven that being different doesn’t make you any less worthy of love.
In fact, it often makes you even more extraordinary.
Today, FP is thriving, enjoying life as a sassy little troublemaker with a family that adores her. She may have been born small and fragile, but her story is anything but.
FP is a reminder that with compassion and dedication, even the tiniest creatures with the biggest challenges can live the happiest lives.