It’s often heard that the maternal instinct reigns supreme, but with Henry, the tabby cat from Ketchikan, Alaska, his paternal instinct is extra strong. Not able to run around as fast or as stealthy as other cats, Henry was born with feline cerebellar hypoplasia, known as “wobbly kitten syndrome.” This means that Henry’s fine motor skills and coordination were underdeveloped at birth, so into his adult years, he’s a little unsteady. The cat has become a homebody appreciating the company of kittens ever since his human mom Heather Muench brought them home.
Henry’s fathering started when Heather received an abandoned litter of three-week-old kittens, found on the side of the road. They were brought into the Ketchikan Humane Society by school children who stumbled upon their little meows coming from a cardboard box.
Once Henry saw them, fatherhood kicked in. Heather says Henry would start licking the kittens, going on for hours, repeatedly cleaning all of them, making sure they were neat and tidy – all 6 of them! He quickly forged a bond with the kittens, wholeheartedly taking on the nurturing role of a mother, which Heather thinks is improving their chances of survival, greatly.
Henry has since adopted the role of dad at the shelter, taking care of unwanted kittens who need love and attention to help grow properly. It’s unusual for a male cat to take on the doting motherly role, but it sure looks like Henry has found a new lease on life – he loves cuddling up and looking after the kittens that come through the shelter!
Click the link below to see Henry get “paws-on” with the kittens.
