Why we call Simba, Mufasa.

When I met Simba, he was dying. He was malnourished, skinny and sickly. He was so desperate for food, he wandered out of his safe hiding place under the porch and approached a human, (me) having had no prior experience with humans. This is not exactly normal behavior for a kitten born outside of captivity.

Simba was one of a litter of five whose mother left to go hunt and never returned. I knew this because the porch they lived under belonged to my friend who was also a cat lover like myself.

When I saw Simba I knew instantly he needed help. He was clearly dying. I believe he used his very last bit of energy to approach me and "meeeeeeeeooooow!" I scooped him up and we went in my friend's house. "There were two out there last night." she told me. "There were five to begin with, their mother got ran over." Needless to say I was a bit upset. She let five kittens, knowing their mother was gone, die one at a time and did nothing?!? She did not even consider telling me, someone who is known for rescuing kittens?!?

Dissapointed, I went out to look for the other Survivor but it was too late for the little guy, simba was the last one.

I fed him milk out of an eye dropper to start. Later, I got him kitten formula. His routine for the first few days was eat, sleep, eat, sleep. He sat in my lap from the time I met him and that became my routine.

He had just started to show signs of regaining his strength when he got pneumonia. His eyes were the start of it. They were infected and would fill with pus regularly and surprisingly quickly. If he took a nap,(which he did often) his eyes would seal shut and when he woke up he would not be able to open them.

Simba and I became a duo, anywhere I went, so did simba. I could not leave him anywhere knowing that he would take a nap and wake up unable to see and I would not be there to clean his eyes. I could not live with that on my conscience. Everyday, I cleaned his eyes 10 to 15 times, fed him multiple times a day out of an eyedropper until he was strong enough to drink on his own.

Unfortunately, the disease in his lungs progressed. He began to have a very difficult and painful time breathing. Every second with him was heartbreaking. However, the way he fought to survive was amazing.

Finally, when he started to take a turn for the worst my girlfriend and her mother agreed to take him to the vet. I mentioned that he needed antibiotics and to make sure and get some from the visit. The night before they took him I thought for sure he was going to die. He was looking worse than he did when I found him. The malnourishment from his mother's disappearance and now the pneumonia together had served to stunt his growth drastically. At a month old he still looked like he was a week old.

That night my girlfriend, Simba and I sat in bed watching a movie but I was distracted. Simba's breathing was terrible. It was hard to listen to. I pet him and talk to him all night. I told him, "I put too much work into this for you to die now, Simba. I'll tell you what, I'll make you a deal. If you don't die I'll upgrade your name to Mufasa and we will call your first born son simba."

I went on like this with him really just for the sake of talking to him. I told him about all the things he will get to do if he lives. Chasing mice, sleeping all day, leftovers from my girlfriend's mother's cooking. Plus I had five other young kittens around he could play with. At any rate, it was all I could do at the moment.

The next morning they took him in to see the vet. The vet had a look at him and told my girl and her mother that there was no way the little guy would make it, the disease had simply progressed too far. A heartbreaking thing to hear. Luckily for me my girl opted to not mention what the vet had said.

She told the vet that she could not come home without Simba and antibiotics. That if she did I would be upset. So they returned with Simba and antibiotics.

I gave him the medicine as prescribed and Simba became Mufasa. Within 3 days he started regaining his strength. He begin eating on his own, he was walking around more and more and not just to go potty. The little guy had actually done it, he pulled through for the name upgrade!

After the meds were all gone and he was beginning to seem like a normal kitten again, he got pneumonia..... again. I was very upset thinking that there was no way he will make it through all of that again.

Three days into it, all at once, he simply got better. One day we woke up and he was fine.. again. I was skeptical but happy.

At this point, by my account, he had used three of his nine lives but he was alive! All of these events have made Mufasa become quite attached to me, he is the most affectionate cat I've ever seen. For the longest time he would try to drink milk from my goatee apparently thinking I was his mother. Mufasa is, to this day my favorite kitty, we are still very close.

As a final thought on the matter, I should mention, he now has a son who looks almost exactly like him named Simba. Also, Mufasa has decided that, with his new chance at life, he is going to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star. Here is a pic of him singing 'roxanne' by the police!

As I finished Mufasa's story, I looked up to gauge my audience's reaction.

"So now you can clearly see why Mufasa is my favorite right?" I asked. All I got for feedback were blank stairs. I understand, my cats can't talk, but I like to think that in that moment if they could talk they would have said "food?"

Thanks for reading much love to you all

Fans Catch CAT Plummeting from Stadium. OMG!!!!!!!!

My HEART! 😻 #rescuekitties #kittyrescue #catsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl18R9Epova/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Posted @withregram • @furfamilylife This rescue has already taken in three beautiful street kittens that found their way to my door. They are legit and they are worthy. Anyone who has spent any time in rescue knows how heartbreaking a diagnosis of FIP is, and now there is a chance to save them. Please consider sending these kind folks a few dollars to help save these precious lives ❤️ If we all give a little it will add up to a lot. Thank you ❤️ (click on their website link in their bio and it will take you to a donate page) RepostBy @foundlingkittensociety: "Foundling supporters, we could really use some help here. We have 3 kittens with FIP in our care needing daily injections with this experimental drug that has already helped cure 1 of our kittens in rescue. We have 3 more that are taking this life saving medication. In the past FIP has been the death sentence for so many kittens/cats but we have been networking with other groups that are having huge success with this drug called GS that’s in trial at this point but our hope is that it will get approved so veterinarians can help families take advantage of this to save their babies. Unfortunately, this drug comes with a hefty price tag. Each 5ml bottle is approximately $80 dollars, two sisters are up to 3ml a day, you can do the math but this is adding up and taxing our little rescue. It’s hard for us to give an exact fund raising amount because as the kittens get bigger so does the dose. We could use any amount anyone is willing to donate to we can keep the care going, we are also happy to help guide anyone that has a kitten/cat diagnosed with this terrible disease. We love these babies so much and we want to see them beat this terrible disease and get adopted to wonderful families once cured. If you are able to donate please follow the link below, we are an approved 501c(3). We appreciate all the support we have already received for these kittens. 🖤 https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/3941945" #furfamilylife #fip #savealife #worthycause #donate #kittyrescue https://www.instagram.com/catspayneuters/p/CY1AC1nq1nf/?utm_medium=tumblr

Jeddah share Beautiful cats up for adoption🐾❤️ Give them second chance by adopting❤️🐾 Most of the cats are spayed n neutered +vaccination Only serious adopter what's app +919881981229 #adoptdontbuycats #jeddah_now #jeddahcats #jeddahlife #adoptdontshop #helpneedyanimals #feedstrayanimals #adoptable #adoptcats #rescueismyfavoritebreed🐾 #rescuedkitty #kittyrescue #catrescued #cats🐱 #catsofinsta #mumbaikarz #instadaily #likesforlike #followme #fosterkittensofinstagram #spayneuterrescue #saudiarabiya #instacatgram #jeddahcatrescue #kittykitty #catlife🐾 #petstagram#تبني_قطط #تبني_لا_تشتري #تبني_لاتشتري (at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUmj7PlOtj/?igshid=1apcujo8bc4ra

Adopt a forever kitty companion today #adoptakittytoday #adoptacatmonth #kittyrescue #kittyrescuee #kittyrescuemomma #kittyrescuedme https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qO8yMlntw/?igshid=1428mjo4bzryl

Zari is a high energy girl! She loves to play, play and play some more! 🐾Zari likes to be silly in her kitten antics! She enjoys climbing her cat tree and waiting to pounce on her brother Tobey. 🤭 She is a sweet and fun kitten! We are offering an adoption special for Tobey and Zari because kittens do well adopted in pairs. Adopt them both for one adoption fee! Contact us today to help us make their dream of a FOREVER home to call their own a reality! 🏡❤️ #fosterkittens #fosterkittensofinstagram #kittenpairstoadopt #adoptinpairs #kittensdobestinpairs #siblingkittens #kittenssibling #adoptdontshop #rescuefosteradopt #rescuekittens #rescuekittensofinstagram #catrescue #kittyrescue #sweetkittens #playfulkitty #playfulkittens # (at Lugoff, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_HkKGlV1j/?igshid=2vxdzfixlfh6

#tbt almost a month ago when I met this precious critter unexpectedly before work. We had work meetings over the weekend in STL and my badge didn't work at the usual back entrance. While waiting to see if security could let me in I heard some meowing in the bushes and looked over to see this sweetheart talking to me. After she followed me around toward the front entrance I felt I had no choice but to scoop her up and take her inside. Luckily, we had nice support staff inside who not only fed her, but found a nice home for her too. I couldn't be happier to have been a part of little Stella's rescue. Such a smart kitty! 😻

My @monadnockkittyrescue duo! Baby Cow was adopted from there at 6 months old in 2011, after being found in a McDonald's parking lot. Marbles was adopted from there in 2013 at 8 weeks old after being found in a box with her kitty mom and siblings on a side street in Boston. They have been bonded ever since Marbles was brought home. Baby Cow chose me. She literally reached her little paw out and grabbed me, and grabbed my heart at the same time. I got her a few months after finding out I was going deaf. She understands the most sign out of all 4 cats, and she alerts me to sounds. This can be as useful as someone knocking at the door, or as useless as Ducky raging in his tank. Marbles looks exactly like Salsa, my mom's cat that passed a few months before we got Marbles. She's a little brat and likes to wreak havoc around the house. But she's so darn cute. We have snuggle time every night before bed, where she burrows under my blankets and pops her head out a bit so that I can smooch her head. #cats #catsofinstagram #cowcat #calicocat #rescuecats #adoptdontshop #monadnockkittyrescue #monadnockkittyrescueandadoption #kittyrescue #jaffreynh

Please help via @beach_city_kitties: Rescue/Foster/Adopter needed! 😑This poor sweet cat was dumped by her owner! 😣She lives in Venice/Marina del Rey area. She's about 4 and is spayed.Currently living outside. Please DM or email [email protected] if you can help. #share #rt #regram #Repost #beachcitykitties #homelesskitty #poorkitty #adoptdobtshop💗 #catrescue #kittyrescue #tnr #losangeles #venicebeach

If you have a little extra cash this paycheck, please look into these shirts which are going to help a rescue buy a facility to rescue cats in a bigger volume. The shirts are super cute and are going for 21.99 along with the option to donate a smaller amounts. Even if you can’t donate or buy a t-shirt please share! This rescue regularly helps my family and are super great! #adoptdontshop

https://www.facebook.com/197448866985503/posts/2261282663935436?sfns=mo

Cat 🐈 Lovers Are The Same Around The World. Here a firefighter in Russia performs a modified CPR on a cat rescued from the fire. Good news awaits everyone! . This is a video from In The Now. . #Cat #Kitty #CatCPR #CatRescue #KittyRescue #8LivesLeft #NineLives #MeowMeow https://www.instagram.com/p/BrZ_U_Ihrj0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1d5f6vs9l4o3k

Stormy is a six month old tiny female. Swipe left to see how much she hates that cone! She just got fixed and she's ready for her forever home. Loves dogs! A real sweety! For adoption in Zarcero, Costa Rica. Private message @dolores.plate for more info. #zarcero #costarica🇨🇷 #costarica #costaricapuravida #adoptdontshop #adoptionsaveslives #rescuecatsofinstagram #rescuecat #rescuecats #foradoption #catadoption #kittyrescue #rescuekitty #catsofinstagram

@Regrann from @beach_city_kitties - Join us tmmrw for kitty adoptions! #kittycuddles #kittyrescue #kittyrescue #kittylovers #adoptdontshop #adop #adopt #santamonica #venicebeach #beachcitykitties - #regrann

Congrats Mitch on being a big brother! #kitties #tabbycat #kittyrescue (at Rockville, Maryland)

Jeddah share Beautiful cats up for adoption🐾❤️ Give them second chance by adopting❤️🐾 Most of the cats are spayed n neutered +vaccination Only serious adopter what's app +919881981229 #adoptdontbuycats #jeddah_now #jeddahcats #jeddahlife #adoptdontshop #helpneedyanimals #feedstrayanimals #adoptable #adoptcats #rescueismyfavoritebreed🐾 #rescuedkitty #kittyrescue #catrescued #cats🐱 #catsofinsta #mumbaikarz #instadaily #likesforlike #followme #fosterkittensofinstagram #spayneuterrescue #saudiarabiya #instacatgram #jeddahcatrescue #kittykitty #catlife🐾 #petstagram#تبني_قطط #تبني_لا_تشتري #تبني_لاتشتري (at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUmaALFrVl/?igshid=1bmim63fprlds