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Meet Wolfie. He’s a cat with an overbite from the streets of Downtown LA who is gaining popularity on social media for his unique smile. But Wolfie is more than just a cat with an overbite. He, and his sister Foxy, have an amazing rescue story and wouldn’t still be here without the efforts of Friends For Life Rescue Network.

Jacqueline Santiago and her friend Cristina Figueroa run the Southern California based Friends For Life Rescue Network. Jacqueline also works full time on Skid Row in permanent housing for the homeless. It was actually her work on Skid Row which inspired her to start Friends for Life as she found a lot of kittens on the streets.

When Jacqueline came into work on December 18, 2017 one of her co-workers notified her that there were three kittens behind one of the housing buildings. After several attempts, she was able to trap the 3 kittens who were all small and in need of medical attention.

When she got home one of the kittens, now named Bear, was laying on his side and not moving. She quickly worked with her roommate, who is a rescue vet to try to save his life. They took Bear to the clinic to give him an IV but unfortunately Bear did not survive that night.

Jacqueline and her roommate still had the other two kittens, named Wolfie and Foxy, to tend to. Both kittens were dehydrated and small. Foxy was 1.5 lbs but Wolfie was only 15 oz! They were both cold and hungry but Jacqueline tirelessly worked towards giving them fluids, feeding them, giving them flea treatments, and warming them up on a snuggle safe.

Over the next several weeks Wolfie continued to struggle with gaining weight. He could not keep any of his food down and was constantly vomiting. An x-ray showed that his esophagus was packed with food debris and obstructing more food from going down as well as his ability to breathe.

They rushed Wolfie to the ER and although the doctors did not have a diagnosis they thought his chances of survival were slim. They suggested to Jacqueline that she euthanize him. But Jacqueline said that she would not euthanize him unless there is a proper diagnosis. If there was a way to keep him alive, she would do everything she could to keep him going. The doctors agreed to perform an endoscopy and while under anesthesia they managed to flush out the debris and get the scope down to the stomach. However, he was still having trouble waking up and they still encouraged her to euthanize him.

But out of some stroke of luck, Wolfie eventually woke up and started making biscuits! The best biscuits you can imagine. He was awake and starting to gain his energy.

Jacqueline brought him home and per the doctors orders she kept him on a strict liquid diet of kitten milk, feeding him nearly around the clock and holding him upright for 10-15 minutes after each. Although struggled at first he eventually began to gain weight, gain strength and gain a tummy! At his next appointment the doctors performed a CT scan and found the tissue which was causing the problem. For the first time felt that Wolfie would have a chance of survival.

From that point Wolfie needed meals every two hours to keep him growing at a healthy pace. With the help of two additional day fosters during the day, Wolfie is now thriving! He’s a happy, spunky and brave kitten who has gained a reputation as a troublemaker.

Despite being a trouble maker he loves the other cats in his foster home. He sleeps like an angel and is now a (whopping!) 1lb 14 oz! He has a huge belly and is gaining weight regularly. His signature overbite is to die for and he loves to give to stick out his tongue. When you go to kiss his face he opens his mouth like he’s going to bite but he’s a total faker. His sister Foxy is thriving in a separate foster household at the moment.

Jacqueline as well as her roommate, stand-in fosters, vets, doctors and other helpers all had a role in keeping Wolfie and Foxy alive against all odds. Wolfie still has another surgery on his esophagus planned before going to a forever home (which there are many people in line to be his forever parents). But one thing is for sure, Wolfie’s smile brings a smile to everyone’s faces. Just…..wait…for….it!

Follow Wolfie on Instagram for more toothy smiles and click here if you’d like to donate to his medical expenses.