Gelato’s Tiny Hot Wheels Wheelchair Is Shelter Ingenuity At Its Best
Sometimes shelter medicine means working with what you have — and sometimes what you have is cardboard, wooden rulers, zip ties, tape and a couple of Hot Wheels.
Meet Gelato, a tiny rescue kitten at Cincinnati Animal CARE who arrived with a lower-back spinal injury that left his hind legs too weak to support him. He still had feeling and movement in those legs, but he could not stand or walk on his own.
At barely over a pound, Gelato was also too small for the wheelchairs the shelter already had. So Veterinary Assistant Lead Mallory Smith and the medical team did what good shelter teams do best: they improvised.
animals
Help More Animals Like Gelato
Cincinnati Animal CARE supports animals with medical and special-needs cases while working to get them healthy, mobile and ready for homes.
Some links may be affiliate links. INYIM may earn from qualifying purchases.
When No Wheelchair Fit, Mallory Smith Built One Herself
Smith first fashioned Gelato a miniature frame from cardboard, then reinforced it with four wooden rulers, electrical and duct tape, zip ties and toy wheels. The most charming part of the whole contraption: two small Hot Wheels ambulances helped form the original rolling base.
The first cardboard version did not hold together for long, so Smith strengthened the design until Gelato could move without the whole thing collapsing beneath him. Once it worked, he finally had a way to get around under his own steam again.
Gelato Went From Dragging His Legs To Exploring Again
Before the wheelchair, Gelato was pulling himself forward with his front legs while dragging his back end. But his personality was very much intact: he wanted to play, chase toys and interact with other cats even while his body was still catching up.
The wheelchair gave him some of that independence back while Smith worked with him on daily physical therapy. According to Smith, Gelato gradually regained enough strength to begin standing for short stretches on his own — an encouraging sign considering the severity of the injury he arrived with.
Then The Internet Helped Upgrade Gelato’s Wheels
After Cincinnati Animal CARE shared Gelato’s homemade setup online, his tiny Hot Wheels wheelchair traveled much farther than anyone expected. The post spread widely and brought offers from people who wanted to help build him something sturdier.
Smith eventually worked with an engineer friend to create a 3D-printed wheelchair designed specifically for Gelato. Unlike the original DIY version, the newer frame can be adjusted as he grows.
And the best-case scenario is that he may not need wheels forever. Because Gelato retained sensation and some movement in his hind legs, Smith has said there is reason to hope that continued rehabilitation could eventually let him walk independently.
Gelato’s Recovery Is Also A Lesson In Scrappy Shelter Medicine
There is something very Cincinnati Animal CARE about the whole thing: no perfectly sized piece of equipment, no problem. Smith described shelter medicine as being resourceful, innovative and willing to figure things out with whatever is available.
Gelato is still being fostered by Smith while he builds strength and gets comfortable with his upgraded wheels. Once he is ready for adoption, it is probably safe to say this little guy will not exactly have trouble attracting attention.
Watch Gelato’s Hot Wheels Wheelchair Story
The supplied YouTube report follows Gelato’s recovery and the improvised mobility aid that helped get him moving again.
INYIM also shared Gelato’s story on TikTok:
Sources: Cincinnati Animal CARE; The Washington Post; Local 12/WKRC.
