A Short(er) Tale of Mitten

Jessica is a remarkable human and has built a remarkable family, one that includes her guide dog, Jesse, and two beloved kittens, Bow and Mitten.

Jessica lives with Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that affects hearing, vision, and balance. Between working, pursuing her master’s degree, and adjusting to a new guide dog, she didn't think she was ready to adopt a cat. But when she met her friend’s litter of kittens, she immediately fell in love and decided to adopt not one, but two of them: Bow and his sister, Mitten (just the one Mitten, not two!).

While Bow is a boisterous bundle of energy, Mitten is smaller and calmer. Despite her size, she is surprisingly strong. Her favorite toy is actually one of the dog toys, which she proudly carries around the house, even if it is a bit big for her size. 

During a recent escape attempt, Mitten's tail was caught in a closing door. It was the kind of accident many cat owners know can happen in an instant. Jessica had already fallen in love with these kittens, and wanted to get to the vet as soon as possible. When she arrived at her primary care veterinarian, they said “Go to Mission.” Mission's commitment to removing barriers to veterinary care helped make Mitten's surgery affordable for Jessica.

Mitten, Bow and Jesse

The day Mitten came in for surgery, her absence was immediately noticed at home. Bow and Jesse spent the day looking for her and wondering where their companion had gone.

Because the injury had fractured the end of her tail, Mission's veterinarians recommended a partial tail amputation. Now back home and healing well with a slightly shorter tail, Mitten is once again greeting Jessica at the door and showering her with affectionate kneading whenever she returns home.

As Jessica says about her furry crew, “They’re my family.”

At Mission, keeping pets and the people who love them together is at the heart of everything we do. Jessica and Mitten remind us that pets are more than companions. They're family.