WASHINGTON, Oct 1, (Agencies): When Dominique Amerosa, the president of Rags to Riches Animal Rescue in Tampa, Florida, received a call about a stray Persian cat in her neighborhood, she initially thought it was a routine rescue. The veterinarian even confirmed the cat's gender during a vaccination appointment. However, three weeks later, the cat, now known as Gertrude, surprised everyone by giving birth to a kitten named Wisp.

Wisp, a charming Persian kitten who is almost 10 weeks old, quickly became famous for her distinctive appearance and talkative nature. She amassed an impressive following of nearly 800,000 on TikTok and received over 50 million likes.

Some admirers affectionately refer to her as "scrungly" or even liken her to a used napkin. Amerosa humorously remarks, "She looks like she just woke up or like she's a mad scientist, which is pretty typical of Persians around that age." However, Wisp's endearing disheveled appearance is partly due to her diet. She can only consume a watered-down slurry, which results in her white fur becoming stained orange around her mouth.

Wisp spends her days enjoying bottled water and receiving care at the Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, where she shares her space with six foster dogs and a few fostered kittens. In total, the rescue looks after over 60 cats and nearly 30 dogs. While Gertrude doesn't interact much with Wisp, another rescue cat named Lilac, who typically "hates cats," has developed a fondness for Wisp and often grooms her.

Amerosa was encouraged by others at the rescue to create a TikTok account dedicated to the organization. She posted a video of Wisp eagerly demanding food, and overnight, the account gained over 200,000 followers, along with numerous comments and new Instagram followers.

Amerosa fondly describes Wisp as a talkative kitten with a big personality, saying, "All of our animals are very cute, but she is hilarious. I'm happy to share how she is—how spunky and sassy."

Despite her charming personality, Wisp faces challenges, including an intestinal stricture that makes it difficult for her to pass stool. The rescue takes Wisp to veterinarians to address her medical condition. She has undergone a procedure called ballooning, which stretches out her colon. It's likely she will require more of these procedures throughout her life but may not need major surgeries.

Amerosa emphasizes the importance of caring for disabled animals, stating, "If you're in it for the long haul and you feel passionate about saving an animal, there are plenty of resources to get the care you need." She also mentions that they will never put an animal through more than it can handle, responding to critics who have suggested euthanizing Wisp.

Wisp, in Amerosa's words, is undoubtedly a fighter, and she and her team are committed to providing her with the best possible care and support throughout her journey.