Canelo was a six-week-old kitten with weak, hard-to-control hind legs when he arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. In a 2023 story, Best Friends describes his individualized care, the rabbits he spent time around at Bunny House, and the friendship he later formed with another kitten. The account is a snapshot of his life at the sanctuary then—not an update on his current health or adoption status.
Canelo’s early challenges
When Canelo arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at six weeks old, his back legs were weak and difficult to control. According to the sanctuary’s story, veterinary staff found no skeletal injuries or abnormalities and suspected a neurological problem affecting his nerves and muscles. The article also says he was incontinent.
Amy Brown, who fostered Canelo and supervised Bunny House, cared for him as he received a plan tailored to his needs. The story reports that this included weekly acupuncture and, later, daily laser therapy. His caregivers observed that he grew stronger, regained some sensation, stood, and took a few steps. These are observations about one kitten as reported in the story, not evidence that either treatment is effective generally.
Time with the rabbits at Bunny House
Canelo spent time around rabbits at Bunny House, where the setting offered chances to be near the animals and explore their space. The story’s photo captions identify rabbits Wasabi and Sterling; it also describes rabbits hopping nearby or watching Canelo play with their toys.
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Brown recalled, “I think they recognize that he has special needs. They aren’t afraid of him.” Her comment describes what she saw in this particular sanctuary setting. It is not a recommendation to introduce cats and rabbits without careful supervision or to assume that any pair will get along.
Why Canelo needed a kitten friend, too
As Canelo matured, the story says he needed a feline playmate to help him learn how to play with teeth and claws. He was paired with Llama, a slightly older kitten with similar medical needs, and the two reportedly became friends. Brown also remembered seeing Canelo stand and take steps: “He never used to be able to do stuff like that.”
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What the 2023 story tells us—and what it doesn’t
Best Friends’ account presents Canelo’s progress through the recollections of his caregivers and the observations they made while caring for him. It does not establish that acupuncture, laser therapy, or time around rabbits caused his changes, and it is not veterinary guidance for kittens with mobility or continence problems.
The story said Canelo would continue to have special needs and anticipated that he would be adopted. Published on March 20, 2023, it does not confirm whether he was later adopted or describe his current condition. Read the original feature, by Sarah Thornton and originally published in the May/June 2023 issue of Best Friends magazine, at Best Friends Animal Society.
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