Titusville (Florida, USA) - "Wheels" has already suffered a lot of bad things in his short life. After a serious car accident, the then three-month-old cat was left to die on the street. But the little guy was rescued and is now bravely fighting his way back to life.

On January 2, Wheels' life was almost over. Passers-by found the kitten badly injured on the street. The cat had been hit by a car and simply left lying there.

Helpers carefully packed him into a cardboard box and transported him to the Brevard Adoption Center in Titusville, Florida. There, there was little hope that the velvet paw would survive.

Examinations revealed that Wheels' legs were so badly injured that amputation was the only option. He had also suffered a hernia in his abdomen and a collapsed lung.

"Although it wasn't clear what the future held for him, Wheels was still purring. He wanted to live and that gave us hope," Briana De Los Santos (24), an employee at the shelter, told Newsweek.

After the first leg was surgically removed, the animal keepers noticed how much more energetic the cat became. "After the second amputation, the kitten came to life. The change was almost immediate and he was much better!" says the 24-year-old.

The fact that the kitty with the striking reddish fur can be so agile despite his disability still leaves his carers speechless. "He climbs, runs and jumps down from high places with ease. He loves chasing toys and his brothers and enjoying the sun," enthuses his carer.

The brave cat is now a real star on TikTok . Some of his videos are clicked millions of times.

Briana is pursuing a very specific goal with the channel: "I want to educatepeople about the reality of animals with disabilities. [...] Just because they're missing a limb doesn't mean they can't lead a full life."