Two_kittens

In addition to Blanca, here’s what also arrived this past weekend:  Two adorable 12-week old kittens who came to us from the Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint, Idaho.  The shelter had named them Spazzy — that’s him on the left — and his sister Teeny.  They were born with missing bones in their rear legs — it looks like both the tibia and fibula are simply not there.  Perhaps as a result of that, their back feet are upside down and backwards … notice how Spazzy’s left rear foot is positioned.

When we hold them up in the air, their rear legs just dangle and kind of spin around.  And yet … put these two on the ground, and they can get around just fine.  Teeny does a modified bunny hop while Spazzy scoots around at a blur.

The shelter had placed these two with a foster mom, Nicki D., who emailed us with some background on them.  In her message she wrote, "So basically, these guys are hardly any different than taking care of a normal cat. Except that they are disfigured, and people start talking euthanasia and removal of limbs around them."  (Nicki’s emphasis.)

Nicki also told us that Spazzy is the "great adventurer" while Teeny is "a dreamer."  They are both sweet and affectionate, and Teeny just starts purring as soon as she sees you. 

But … I think it’s time for a name-the-kittens contest!  Please post your name suggestions on the blog, and if we pick your names, we’ll send you either a Rolling Dog Ranch hat or a set of our greeting cards … your choice!

Here’s some video of this duo that I shot in my office this afternoon.  You’ll see that except for those back legs, these two are happy, healthy and spunky little guys.

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55 responses to “They’re Missing Bones But Not Spirit”

  1. Shirley & James Avatar
    Shirley & James

    Simba and Nala from the movie “The Circle of Life.” or
    Kindred and Spirit!

    Like

  2. Heather Avatar

    These two are just adorable! For some reason, I LOVE these two names together:
    Lola & Milo

    Like

  3. Kylie Avatar
    Kylie

    Awww they’re so cute!! Reminds me of my cat, Shadow.
    I reckon names like Travel & Trance would suit them, which are other meanings of adventure and dream. They sound kinda crazy, but it’s the best I can come up with right now for two such cute kittys! 😀

    Like

  4. Carla Polastro-Nigro Avatar

    Oh my, they’re too cute for words! I wish them a long and happy life at the RDR!
    As a new name for Teeny, I suggest Vispa, Italian for lively, vivacious; for Spazzy, Tim (as in Tiny Tim).

    Like

  5. Jessica, NL Avatar
    Jessica, NL

    Ah, they are sweet and playful and they just look like they’re sitting on some other kitten, upside down under their rear end :-)…
    Don’t the weirdest things go awry sometimes? Dogs without formed eyes, kittens without bones and chihuahua’s without front legs and still they all manage to find a gift in living, as long as they get a shot at life…

    Like

  6. Kay Stemnock Avatar
    Kay Stemnock

    Since they came from Idaho, why not potato names? He can be Spud and she can be Tater Tot or TT for short. Just an idea.
    Keep up your excellent work, Steve and Alayne.

    Like

  7. Debbie B Avatar
    Debbie B

    What adorable babies…what great fortune for them to have you guys! My names for them would be Spencer and Kate….a famous couple with strength and courage! If I didn’t have six cats already, I’d take these two in a heartbeat!

    Like

  8. shelby Avatar
    shelby

    Here’s some names:
    Teeny: Kapka
    which means teenieweenie bit in Polish
    Spazzy: Chetny
    which means willing in Polish
    These two babies remind me of cats in photos from my fathers childhood. He’s 100% Polish by the way!
    God bless!!

    Like

  9. danielle Avatar

    I’d suggest Luna (Lovegood from harry potter) for Teeny, but you already have a current and a former Luna.
    How about Dream(er) and Laser?

    Like

  10. Alison Avatar
    Alison

    Ernest (Hemingway, the adventurer)
    &
    Emily (Dickinson, the dreamer)

    Like

  11. Florida Avatar
    Florida

    Spazzy looks like he is wearing goggles, so I would name him Goggles.

    Like

  12. Boundforglory Avatar
    Boundforglory

    More baby energy at the ranch…I love them!
    I can tell they’re all about finding the joy and fun in life, purring all the while. What a stroke of luck for them to have found their way to you.
    Welcome home little ones!
    These sets of names came to me when I saw them:
    Marco and Cleo
    Pewter and Sterling
    Huck (for the adventurer) and Skye (for the dreamer)

    Like

  13. Cathy Avatar
    Cathy

    Dear Teeny and Spazzy:
    The ways of the world are amazing, aren’t they? You two have found the safest and most loving place to live. You will be well cared for, have good food and warm beds, and plenty of animal and human companionship. Bless your sweet little souls. And I think Steve and Alayne just may have their hands full with you two! Who needs hind legs anyway?!!? Welcome to RDR!

    Like

  14. Heidi & the kitties Avatar
    Heidi & the kitties

    Yay, more kitties at the Ranch! The first thing that came to mind for me was Hansel & Gretel. They found their way to a loving home after an uncertain future in the cold cruel world!
    What cuties! The way they walk reminds me of how the doxies with the bad backs walk. All that sashaying!

    Like

  15. Patti Avatar
    Patti

    They look like “Charlie” and “Sandy” to me.

    Like

  16. ginger & Tobias (the greythound) Avatar
    ginger & Tobias (the greythound)

    What cute kittens! They are just precious! You’ve already gotten some great name suggestions, but I’d like to add some more. Moxie for Spazzy & Venus for Teeny. This next one came to mind, so I’m just going to go ahead & blurt it out, Leo for Spazzy & Cleo for Teeny. Thanks for taking these sweeties in.
    Hugs to all,
    ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

    Like

  17. sherry Avatar

    I love this! What a happy ending for these two precious felines. As for names, I like Linus and Schroeder, (I’m a Peanuts fan)or maybe Peanutz and Popcorn. That just came to me cuz I was thinking about Peanuts, lol. Bless you both for taking in these worthy but often unwanted animals.

    Like

  18. Karen M Avatar
    Karen M

    I posted on the wrong blog…how about Silverado for Spazzy as he looks strong like a horse and Missy for the little lady Teeny.

    Like

  19. Cherri Avatar
    Cherri

    My first thought for Spazzy was to name him Rubber Bumper. For Teeny, Merrileewee Rollalong.
    Such sweet babies. Thanks for your love and caring.
    Cherri

    Like

  20. Cherri Avatar

    Aw-wwww….how sweet!
    My name idea, how about Rubber Bumper for Spazzy and
    Merrileewee Rollalong?
    Such purr-fect little babies in my eyes.
    Thanks for all your love and caring for all these babies.
    Cherri

    Like

  21. Vanessa Sanddal Avatar
    Vanessa Sanddal

    I suggest naming the little cuties “Anna” and “Purna” after the Annapurna Mountain Range.
    Its beautiful like they are and long ago, my family had two grey tabbies named the same – they adored each other. 🙂

    Like

  22. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Okay, it’s a stretch, but how about R2D2 and C3PO? They don’t move as well as the others but they can still save the universe.

    Like

  23. Victoria Hopkins Avatar

    Absolutely precious kitties! Thank you Rolling Dog Ranch for accepting these two wonderful cats into your sanctuary.
    As for name suggestions…my suggestion is:
    Bumble and Bee
    🙂
    Victoria

    Like

  24. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    The kittens are indeed adorable. For names, possibly Tibby and Fibby…(for tibia and fibula). Just a way to try and give back what they don’t have, at least in name & spirit!

    Like

  25. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    A couple more name ideas for the kittens. Teeny gets “Bugs Bunny” because he bunny hops and Spazzy gets “Rugs Runner” (instead of Road Runner) since he’s a blur in the rug. So you’ve got Bugs & Rugs for short. Excellent work you guys do!

    Like

  26. Gabby Avatar
    Gabby

    I see these two charmers as a comic duo and the names “George” and “Gracie” come to mind. We can learn a lesson from these two kitties who are enjoying life without lamenting over how they may have missed out!

    Like

  27. Patti Hernandez Avatar
    Patti Hernandez

    Spunky, frisky, and most of all determined…I would name them Razzle and Dazzle!

    Like

  28. Susie from LA Avatar
    Susie from LA

    Kittens just gotta have fun (who cares if there are a couple of parts missing). They’re just beautiful! Because of their color, another vote for Pewter and Sterling. Also like Tibby and Fibby. Or Lola & Milo, just ‘cuz it sounds cute. May they have many, many years of chasing feathers or whatever.

    Like

  29. Peggy Avatar
    Peggy

    I vote Spazzy gets named Achilles because he was the brave, handsome hero of the Trojan War – invulnerable except for his heel. And Teeny could be named after Helen of Troy. Because Helen was the most beautiful of all the goddesses. (And Teeny is one cute kitten.)

    Like

  30. Christian Avatar

    I am visiting on Saturday and cannot WAIT to meet the new arrivals!
    I would suggest Bonnie & Clyde since they look like they could be a handful!

    Like

  31. Pamala Brown Avatar
    Pamala Brown

    Hi Steve and Alayne!
    My suggestions are Hopalong and Cassidy (Hopalong Cassidy was the name of an old cowboy character and show on TV back in the dark ages). Well, now I’m really showing my age!
    Take care,
    Pamala at Dogs’ Little Acre in Shadow Hills, SoCal

    Like

  32. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    I second the motion for “Anna” and “Purrna” !
    They are so cute!

    Like

  33. Cassie B. Avatar
    Cassie B.

    I don’t know…I kinda like the name “Spazzy,” but the name “Teeny” has got to go. How about Bonnie & Clyde–they both look like they could be trouble! 🙂 Lucy & Desi might be good, too, as I’m sure they will provide hours of entertainment!

    Like

  34. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Since one’s an adventurer and one’s a dreamer, how about Indiana & Jones? They’re adorable!

    Like

  35. Bruce Small Avatar

    Aw, they are cuties. I bet they will be cuddlers.

    Like

  36. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    They are such cute “little rascals” that Spanky and Darla just seem to fit! What is the
    prognosis for these sweet little
    guys? I’m curious as to how they
    will adapt to this challenge.

    Like

  37. Elaine Miller Avatar
    Elaine Miller

    Welcome to your new home sweet kitties!They are so adorable with working back legs or not.I can’t imagine anyone wanting to put these 2 life filled lovers to sleep.They have so much to give and I know they make a great addition to the RDR family! I suggest Scooter for Spazzy since he scoots around and either Maggie,Mabel or Bunny for Teeny since she hops around.I really like the name SCOOTER for Spazzy,not sure on Teenys’ name. Love & Peace, Elaine,Jake & Brave

    Like

  38. Shelli Smith Avatar
    Shelli Smith

    Love those cute little kittens! I like the names Lucy and Ricky, but I also like George and Gracie, as suggested in another comment. They look like they bring a lot of joy to the ranch. Give them a scratch under the chin from me.
    Shelli Smith
    Bob and Stew (my two 14 yr old “kittens”)

    Like

  39. Roxi Avatar
    Roxi

    It doesn’t matter which one is which but i think!
    Snuggles and Cuddles
    Sound good 😉

    Like

  40. kcborrs Avatar
    kcborrs

    They are adorable! And sure to have a wonderful life ahead of them at RDR! My 2 name picks are Mickey & Minnie or Pooh Bear & Tigger….can you tell I love Disney?? 🙂
    Karmen & the zoo

    Like

  41. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Mirth and Mayhem. They look like troublemakers.

    Like

  42. Kylie Payeur Avatar
    Kylie Payeur

    I think Legs and Lily are a cute name 🙂
    best of luck through the rest of the summer!

    Like

  43. Kathy Goog Avatar
    Kathy Goog

    I have no imagination for naming pets (or even my human children) so after reading everyone’s posts, I would have to vote for Heidi’s Hansel & Gretel. Original yet easy.

    Like

  44. Nina Avatar
    Nina

    What a pair of cuties these two kitties are!!!
    My suggestions for names are: Cricket and Jiminie (I am a Disney fan!)

    Like

  45. Janet Avatar
    Janet

    Any chance they would benefit from little wheel carts for their back ends?

    Like

  46. Veronika Avatar
    Veronika

    How about Sampson and Delilah??? Congradulations on your newest additions. They are ADORABLE! God Bless you both!!

    Like

  47. Elizabeth Mahony Avatar
    Elizabeth Mahony

    Okay….My vote for names are Lilac and Poppy. Two little sweethearts with lots of appeal.

    Like

  48. Priscilla Smith Avatar
    Priscilla Smith

    They are adorable! They look happy and comfortable. As for name suggestions…how about naming one of them “Honey” and the other one “Buns”?? 🙂

    Like

  49. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Oh my, two more little beauties for the RDR! How about Moppet and Mittens (as in the Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter).

    Like

  50. Kristen D. Avatar
    Kristen D.

    I like Ernest and Emily. Very poetic 🙂 George and Gracie are also cute names (btw, the little one on the right looks like my kitty, Sweetpea).

    Like

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