Have you ever seen a unicorn?
Well, you certainly haven’t considering they don’t exist, but maybe you’ve seen other miracles.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the story of a unicorn.
It is, however, the heartwarming tale of an unbelievable cat.
That cat’s name?
Martyr.
Martyr’s not like most cats.
No, not all.
For starters, “she” was found in a dumpster!
It’s true. One day in 2016, someone heard her meowing – she had been discarded like unsavory leftovers.
But that didn’t hinder her adorableness.
When Martyr was found, she was suffering from a broken front leg.
To make matters worse, she had developed gangrene in her back paw.
Fortunately, her new mother knew exactly how to care for her.
Warning: this might melt your heart!
With a little bit of love, anything is possible.
And that’s exactly what Martyr got.
Her journey to better health has been rife with hardship.
But she still rocks her cone with style and grace.
Unfortunately, Martyr ended up losing her back paw as a baby.
But she wound up in the best hands possible. Her new mother had experience fostering kittens.
Mom bottle-fed Martyr as she nursed the kitten back to full health.
The initial healing process took a while.
Still, she had come a long way since the dumpster!
Every day she grew stronger, her adorableness always on full display.
Martyr’s unique for many reasons. Not only did she escape death in a dumpster, but she is actually a he!
For the longest time, everyone thought Martyr was a girl.
Usually, calico cats are females. But every now and then, nature throws a curveball.
Martyr’s extra special.
In fact, roughly only one in 3,000 calico cats is male!
One in 3,000 calico cats is male.
Dr. Andrea Berger – a vet – likens the calico to the mythical, horned horse.
“It’s like a unicorn! I’ve been involved with shelters for 10 years, and I have never seen one.”
Unicorns can take many forms…
Sometimes, they masquerade as dogs or cats!
So how does this all work? Are calico cats like a specific breed or something? Actually, no. They’re not a breed at all.
It has to do with genetics.
In cats, the X chromosome lends itself to orange and black fur.
Females have two X chromosomes, giving them both colors atop a base white coat – a calico cat.
Male cats, on the other hand, usually only have one X chromosome (and one Y), yielding orange or black colors against a base white coat.
Male calico cats, like Martyr, have two X chromosomes and a Y – a rarity in nature.
Isn’t that fascinating?
Anyway, what fiend could discard this adorable kitten into a dumpster?
Humanity has a ways to go!
Martyr did absolutely nothing to deserve such horrendous treatment.
Fortunately, life’s not so bad these days!
Now, she can relax with Momma whenever she wants.
What do you think of Martyr’s amazing story? What do you think of cats, in general?
Some people say they’re dog people, while others say cat.
But why not both?
Animal rescue takes a huge heart.
Martyr’s been through it all. Despite challenging origins and a myriad of health problems, Martyr’s flourishing with a little bit of luck and love.
Just take a look at him now!
Martyr became an internet sensation when his rescuer’s niece took to Imgur with the very pictures you see in this article!
Now, his story’s inspiring people across the globe.
Before you leave, check out 10 amazing calico cat facts in the video player!
Be prepared to be blown away by what some may consider a common house cat!
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