The status of Amir was
last posted on 05/13/25 by
Nine lives is not enough.
Male Cat, Domestic Short Hair
Domestic Short Hair / Mixed (Short Coat)
Description:
Amir is a stunning medium length-haired orange kitten with a heartwarming story of resilience. This little warrior had a rough start—rescued from the streets with a nasty cold and an eye infection. His journey wasn’t easy. A well-meaning community member accidentally administered his oral medication into his eyes, causing complications that could have left him blind. Thankfully, we stepped in just in time, and Amir fully recovered! Just when things were looking up, Amir faced another life-threatening challenge. At just 1 pound, he struggled to breathe and needed emergency surgery for a diaphragmatic hernia. During the procedure, his tiny heart stopped for 9 seconds—but this little fighter wasn’t ready to give up! He made a miraculous recovery. However, during surgery, he also developed an eye ulcer. While he can still see just fine, his veterinarian is currently treating the issue. After the surgery, we noticed a small divot below Amir’s rib cage. Initially, his veterinarian suspected pneumonia, but when it didn’t clear up, further evaluation led to a new diagnosis. This diagnosis was pectus excavatum, a condition where his chest is sunken in, making it harder for him to breathe. Given his medical history, we consulted two veterinarians, who both agreed that surgery would be far too risky—he might not survive the procedure. Without surgery, Amir is expected to live about eight good years, after which his heart may start to struggle due to the extra work it takes to breathe. Despite this, he doesn’t let anything slow him down! He runs, plays, and wrestles with other kittens, having learned to pace himself and take breaks when needed. One thing that makes Amir extra special? He’s a HUGE cuddler and a total purr machine! If you’re looking for a kitten who will snuggle with you for hours, let you carry him around like a baby, and be your constant companion, Amir is your perfect match! Amir needs to go to a home with another young cat his age or be adopted with a buddy—he will cry if he’s left alone without feline friends. Amir really loves his good friend Bixby and would love to be adopted with her or Sylvestra. Most Common Question about Amir: What dangers can he face in our home with his condition? Pectus excavatum is his main challenge. His chest is slightly compressed, which can make breathing a bit harder for him. Some risks in the future are: Overexertion – Amir has learned to pace himself, but too much intense play without breaks could cause him to tire out faster than other kittens. He may need a little encouragement to rest if he gets too excited. However in his foster home he acts like your normal kitten his age. Respiratory Infections – Since his chest shape affects his breathing, severe respiratory infections (like pneumonia) could be harder on him than a typical kitten. Keeping him in a clean environment and watching for signs of congestion is important. Long-Term Heart Strain – Over time (many years down the road), his heart may have to work harder, so regular vet checkups will be key to monitoring his health. Update: 4-23-2025 Amir was adopted along with his best friend Bixby and spent four weeks in what we hoped would be their forever home. Sadly, the resident cat there didn’t get along with Amir, despite Amir's only wish being to play and make friends. Because of the ongoing tension, Amir and Bixby were returned to us and are available again. Soon after returning, there was renewed interest in adopting the pair, and a meet-and-greet was scheduled. Unfortunately, just a day before their appointment, Amir suddenly developed acute gastrointestinal inflammation and had to be hospitalized for two nights. As a result, all meet-and-greets had to be canceled. It took nearly 10 days of tests and monitoring to determine what was going on, but thankfully, all results came back normal. During this time, we made the tough decision to separate Amir from Bixby so she could move forward with her adoption, as she remained healthy and ready for a home. Now, a few weeks later. He’s gained back the weight he lost while on a special low-fat diet, and his energy has returned. He’s even made a new friend—Sylvestra, a sweet long hair tuxedo kitten currently undergoing FIP treatment. The two have become great companions, offering each other comfort and playful companionship and have the zoomies together. Amir is once again available for adoption. While we know his time with us may not be as long as we wish—due to his underlying health challenges—he has shown us what a true survivor he is. Amir is a miracle kitten, full of love and resilience. He greets you by rolling onto his back, belly up, asking for rubs 90% of the time you walk up to him. He LOVES cuddling and just being near people. Now, he’s waiting for a special family to open their hearts and give him the love he so deserves. Could that be you? That said, Amir is currently thriving—he plays, snuggles, and lives like any other kitten! He just needs a loving adopter who understands his condition and is willing to give him the best quality of life possible while he is here with us. His only ongoing care is extra daily L-lysine supplement and b-12 vitamin. Prior to adoption, all kittens are spayed/neutered, tested for FIV/FELV, vaccinated and microchipped. Kittens under 5 months old must be adopted with a buddy or into a house where there's a kitten-friendly pet. This kitten is currently in a foster home. To meet this kitten, please fill out an adoption application so that we'll have your contact information, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. www.thedancingcat.org/adopt
