In recognition of International Cat Day, a paralyzed kitten named Ryder is gaining national attention not only for his survival but also for his role as an advocate for pets with disabilities. Ryder, who lives with hind-leg paralysis, has earned enough votes to win the state crown in the Pet Lovers' Choice Awards (PLCA) and will now compete in the 'Best in Nation' competition.
Ryder's owner, Lisa Karwowski, established Fur-Gotten Tales Animal Rescue and has made paralyzed cats her special passion. She hopes Ryder's recognition will foster greater support for animals with disabilities, noting that many veterinarians and potential owners believe such cats cannot live fulfilling lives, leading to euthanasia if the right care isn't found.
"Specifically, paralyzed cats have become my special passion just because I know that even vets out there don't think that they can live a good life, and unless you find the right vet, they are getting euthanized," Karwowski stated. "And there's a large community out there of people with paralyzed pets, and it's the same story: They thrive, they love, they're happy — as long as they get the proper care."
Karwowski's journey with Ryder began in December 2024 when a good Samaritan found the kitten abandoned in a bag with a broken spine. After seeing his photo on social media and recognizing the severity of his condition from prior experience with a paralyzed cat, Karwowski felt compelled to help.
She recalled her efforts to find help for Ryder, stating, "I was really busy at the time, and I was trying to sneak in looking to see if anybody was willing to help him, any other rescue. I finally got out of what I was doing, and I saw that nobody except for one other rescue was willing to just take him to the vet and put him down for potential quality of life." Karwowski added, "But being a paralyzed cat owner already … I knew that I could at least give him a chance to recover and have a good life."
Karwowski felt an immediate connection to Ryder, saying, "Honestly, that picture that I saw of him … I had some connection in my heart that I knew he wasn't going to be leaving." She observed his strength, personality, and social nature, which led her to believe that creating an online presence for him would demonstrate to the world that these animals deserve to live.
By August 2026, Ryder had amassed a social media following of over 150,000 people. Karwowski finds that creating content for Ryder's accounts often evokes emotional memories of his challenging journey. "I cried sometimes making the videos — seeing his story or his strength or how much inspiration he's created for a lot of people," she shared.
Karwowski also connects Ryder's resilience to her own experiences with chronic illness, finding encouragement in his determination. She believes many pet owners feel similarly about their animals. "The reason I connect with a lot of these animals … the ones that nobody wants or nobody's willing to help or put in the time and effort knowing… is some of my own chronic illness … He encourages me to keep getting up and moving. And I'm sure a lot of people say the same about their pets," she said.
Beyond his personal story, Ryder's social media presence provides representation and recognition for the broader community of individuals with disabilities. "You never know who could see it that needs to see it — whether it's an animal in need or a person in need. We actually have a lot of people who are paralyzed that comment and say, 'This is very useful!' or 'You're showing the world that people like me deserve to live and don't need to be looked at in a weird way,'" Karwowski explained.
Karwowski, who recently took in another paralyzed kitten, is grateful for the national platform Ryder's story is receiving. "It's brought in so much publicity to him and his disability and rescue in general. So I absolutely am speechless … it's hard to put to words sometimes," she commented.
If Ryder wins the 'Best in Nation' prize, the winnings will be allocated to his care and that of other animals at Fur-Gotten Tales Animal Rescue. Karwowski highlighted the significant costs involved in caring for severely ill or injured animals, citing a recent case where a cat's vet bill exceeded $5,000, and the ongoing needs of the new 6-week-old paralyzed kitten. "We had a cat a couple of weeks ago … her vet bill exceeded $5,000. She was severely sick. You know, everybody would have just let her go, but we kept trying, we tried a couple of days with intensive care. And now our little, our new little 6-week-old paralyzed kitten that was at risk again of being put down … she's going to need care as well," she said. "So it's just going back to all of our animals."
The voting period for the PLCA 'Best in Nation' prize concluded in late July, with a broadcast announcement for the winner expected in the fall.
