Foster Kitten Who Went Viral for His Homemade Wheelchair Gets 3D-Printed Upgrade

In June 2026, a foster kitten named Gelato won the internet’s heart due to his homemade wheelchair. The utterly adorable kitten went viral after Cincinnati Animal CARE shared a post of him using his wheelchair made from rulers, cardboard, and Hot Wheels. Soon, likes and comments were pouring in.

“He’s looks like one of the Transformers. He should be named Optimus Prime,” said one Facebook user.

The vet tech who MacGyvered the wheelchair showed incredible creativity and ingenuity, and Gelato loved finally being able to get around. However, Cincinnati Animal CARE just shared an update on Gelato — he now has a 3D-printed wheelchair designed specifically for him.

Who Is Gelato?

If you missed out on the original post, Gelato is a tiny foster kitten currently at the Cincinnati Animal CARE shelter. When he came into the shelter, he wasn’t able to walk or even stand on his own. Unfortunately, he was so small he didn’t fit any of the ready-made wheelchairs that the shelter had.

So, vet tech Mallory took matters into her own hands and jury-rigged a wheelchair for the little guy. Using rulers and cardboard for the legs, which were then set into Hot Wheels so Gelato could roll around, and an enormous amount of tape, she managed to get the kitten set up.

With the homemade wheelchair, Gelato was finally able to move somewhat on his own and even began to want to play.

Gelato’s New 3D-Printed Wheelchair Upgrade

All the online attention Gelato received led to something amazing — a 3D-printed wheelchair designed just for him.

The shelter shared an updated photo of Gelato in his new wheelchair, which spurred another flurry of likes and comments.  Although the shelter didn’t mention who designed the upgraded mobility device, they did post a heartfelt caption with the picture.

“Thanks to everyone who liked, shared, and helped spread the word about Gelato, this little guy now has a 3D-printed custom wheelchair made especially for him! This is what community looks like. We couldn’t have made this happen without everyone who shared our original post and helped get Gelato’s story out there,” the shelter wrote.

Hopefully, with his new professionally made wheels, Gelato will be able to move around better than ever (and perhaps all this attention will land him in his forever home).

(feature image: Cincinnati Animal CARE Facebook)

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