A Summary of Wyatt’s Condition

Wyatt was born with many different congenital anomalies. His jaw is deformed and cannot close, so his tongue always sticks out. Wyatt was unable to blink for many months, so his eyes are dark and cloudy due to scarring from repeated ulcers. He does have vision. His lungs are underdeveloped, so he breathes hard but he is not panting for air. He has an enlarged heart and pulmonary hypertension. He has hydrocephalus, which is the overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. He is massively undersized, weighing just 1.5lbs, for unknown reasons. Despite all of these hardships, Wyatt is a joyous, happy boy who is stable and not suffering at this time. He is on 5 different daily medications to control his health conditions, but nothing will cure or fix him. He has seen over 10 different specialists in the last year, and there is nothing left that can be done for him that we’re not already doing. We greatly enjoy whatever time we have with him!

Wyatt’s Story

Wyatt was born on February 18, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. His mom, a solid ginger girl named Dot, is a semi-feral neighborhood cat who just turned 2 on May 18, 2024. His dad is a chunky, orange and white colored tomcat.

Wyatt was half the size of his three sisters at birth, and it was obvious right away that something was wrong with his jaw. It was floppy, wouldn’t close, and his tongue hung out.

Dot’s owner contacted Wonky Whiskers Rescue in Waco, Texas for help with Wyatt. They placed him in foster care and promptly began tube-feeding him. After 5 weeks of care, Wyatt only weighed 7 ounces. Wonky Whiskers realized the extent of Wyatt’s medical issues required more specialized veterinary care than what was available in Waco. They agreed to transfer him to Kitkat Playroom near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On March 31, 2024, Wonky Whiskers flew 6-week-old Wyatt to the Philadelphia International Airport. He’s been under Kitkat Playroom’s loving care ever since. Below are the most frequently asked questions we get about Wyatt, and their answers.

  • Wyatt was born with a congenital condition called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysplasia. This means that the ball and socket on both sides of his jaw are severely misshapen and do not fit well together. Additionally, Wyatt’s left side has minor subluxation, which means his joint is partially dislocated. He’s not able to close his mouth and his tongue hangs out at all times.

    CAN WYATT’S JAW BE FIXED? It’s possible, but any of his options require lengthy anesthesia and based on Wyatt’s near death experience at anesthesia last time, we won’t be trying it again unless absolutely necessary. Since Wyatt has learned how to eat a proper amount of food on his own, we’ve opted not to pursue any surgical options at this time.

    IS WYATT IN PAIN?
    Nope! Because Wyatt was born with his jaw deformity and it’s not due to trauma, there is no pain. It’s just the way he is!

  • Actually, his tongue is quite moist. He is able to drink water and eat wet food, so his tongue stays wet.

  • Wyatt doesn’t have a normal blink response. As a result, his eyes dry out and the surface sheds. Bacteria gets under that shedding layer, causing an eye infection and then ulcers.

    His dark, cloudy eyes are due to scarring as a result of the ulcers.

    Is Wyatt in pain? No, his eyes are not painful at this time.

    Can Wyatt see? Yes! He has vision in both eyes.

  • Wyatt is not in any pain or discomfort. He is a very happy boy who enjoys lots of cuddles, cardboard scratchers, and food. He’s active, inquisitive, and enjoys normal cat activities and interacting with other cats. He purrs up a storm and is very much spoiled.

  • Because Wyatt cannot close his mouth, he’s not able to groom himself like a normal cat (although he tries!). He’s also very messy with his food. Although Wyatt is brushed and bathed regularly, his fur always looks ruffled.

  • Because Wyatt does not have much fat, his temperature runs colder than average. His shirts help to keep him warm. Also, because Wyatt gets food all over his chest and legs when he eats, the shirts help keep him cleaner for longer between baths.

    Wyatt has plenty of clothes at this time and does not need anymore.

  • Wyatt was tube-fed for the first three months of his life. He then learned how to lap food from a bowl on his own. He gets a blended mix of high-calorie wet and dry kitten food that is easily swallowed. Due to his megaesophagus, he eats from an elevated bowl.

  • We don’t know why Wyatt is so small. He only weighs 1.5lbs and is over 8 months old. His internist theorized Wyatt might have a growth hormone deficiency but the test for that is complicated on such a small kitten. It’s a daily goal to get Wyatt to maintain or gain weight.

  • For many months, off and on, Wyatt has needed oxygen therapy due to the severity of his lung condition. As of now, he has been entirely off oxygen since September!

  • Both of Wyatt’s front legs are deformed. His front left leg is worse than the right. They are bowed and twisted in an unusual way. Wyatt has an orthopedic consult in December to see if there is anything that can be done for his legs.

  • Wyatt is an enthusiastic eater! The same jaw condition that causes him to not be able to close his mouth or retract his tongue causes him to make a HUGE mess when he eats. This includes getting food in his eyes. So, we ordered some goggles for dolls and they fit perfectly. He doesn’t even mind wearing them!

  • Wyatt is cared for by a nonprofit kitten rescue called Kitkat Playroom, who cares for many other felines in addition to Wyatt. Donating to the rescue is always appreciated. You can learn more on the Donation page.

  • Wyatt has many, many toys and bedding and does not need anything more at this time. He does love cards! Please feel free to send mail to:

    Wyatt at Kitkat Playroom
    PO Box 758
    Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

  • Sorry, no! Wyatt is a permanent foster with Jen, his caretaker and mom. After many months caring for Wyatt, it was clear that he thrives under her care.