The Kitten Who Lived

On August 9th, my daughter was running errands and saw something moving on the side of the interstate freeway. She pulled off and walked back and found a small kitten staggering on the verge. It was a frightening experience, with large trucks passing right next to her and at one point, while she was still on her way, she saw the kitten stagger toward the traffic.

She got the kitten and brought it home. This is what it looked like:



The kitten's legs were bloody and her head was misshapen - looking like a lop-sided football, with one eye closed and an abraded ear. It was evident from her injuries that she'd been tossed from a moving vehicle, one that, given the location, had been moving quickly.

We got her to the vet who then kept her overnight. I didn't realize until afterwards that they'd been trying to tell me that they didn't expect her to make it through the night.

But when I called the next morning, it was to hear, from an obviously surprised vet tech, that she had made it through. I picked her up that afternoon as it was the weekend. They had given her meds and my instructions were only to keep her warm and try to get her to eat. They didn't think she'd make it through the weekend.

Here she is back home again, in the box we lined with towels. There's a heating pad underneath and a folded facecloth is her blanket.



Over the weekend, she gradually improved, and by Sunday evening, she was eating a third of a can of kitten food at a time.



And here's a clearer view of her head.



Taking her back to the vet on Monday, it was clear she'd make it. No broken bones, thankfully, although she'll lose much of her left ear and her right eye. The eye is scheduled to be removed tomorrow, this is what it looks like a week ago.



It looks much worse now, but clearly causes her no pain at all. She is still quieter than the average kitten, but she's playing and purring and eating a lot.

Yay for your daughter!

Wow! What a story. How horrible a beginning for this little animal and how fortunate your daughter found her and bravely rescued her!

THANK YOU for taking care of this little one!

Amazing story! How wonderful! Thanks to you and your daughter!

Poor little thing, so pleased to hear that she was rescued and is recovering. I hope the operation goes well tomorrow.

I was amazed she noticed a small kitten while driving by on the freeway. I would not have.

And I'll add that the vet bills so far have totaled $29.00, so he's only charging us for the meds.

She's currently sleeping on my chest, so I'm late with all the things I need to get done today. I'll update after I pick her up from the vet tomorrow afternoon, after she has her eye taken care of.

oh my goodness, the poor little baby...

I despair for humanity - why would someone do that? There are many easier and kind ways to handle an unwanted kitten.

Stopping the car first, at a bare minimum. I was very sweary the day she was found and even our even-tempered vet was upset.

Oh, the poor little thing! So glad the kitty is surviving.

She now has a nemesis... The Human Who Must Not Be Named... :) (Okay, we should name said evil human, but it doesn't take the literary play as the other. :))

I have a one-eyed cat and he does just fine. Thanks for helping this kitten.

Aww, that's going to be one special cat! Thanks for taking care of her!

Thank you for taking care of her! She's lucky to live with you now.

Hurrah for your daughter and you!

Have you named the little one yet?

My mom adopted an old stray many years ago--and he was missing an eye and an ear and had scars all over. Obviously been in a lot of fights but he wasn't feral and he lived for quite a while. Cats are tough and very resilient. It looks like this new guy/gal will do just fine.

Anyone who would throw an animal out of a moving car--really there's something wrong with them.

Melmoth (I was in the middle of Sarah Perry's new novel when we found her) is back from the vet, groggy, but doing fine. I'm looking forward to seeing how quickly she rebounds now that she doesn't have that horrible eye bothering her.



And, once again, the vet didn't charge us for the full amount, just 30%.

Awww poor little one, how very kind of your vet. What a wonderful name too.

Your vet is very generous. I suspect the vet is moved by your kindness in providing the cat the care she needs.

Melmoth is so cute, I love her tabby markings, and now she has the opportunity to grow into a beautiful cat. Thanks to you, your daughter and the vet.

She is so adorable! Did the vet say how old she might be?

>20 krazy4katz: He estimated 6 or 7 weeks when we first brought her to him on the 15th.

>19 calm: I have a fondness for ordinary tabbies. She'll always look a little different, what with missing her left eye and her right ear, but she's certainly cute.

>18 thornton37814: I'm touched by the vet's generosity. I only know about it because I requested the detailed receipt for her health file.

>17 anna_in_pdx: I like the name, too, although my husband is already calling her Melly.

Here she is, early this morning, already leaping around like a regular kitten.

Her one remaining eye is so huge! She's so beautiful!

>22 anna_in_pdx: That's because she's using it to pounce viciously on The Finger Under The Blanket.

>21 RidgewayGirl: A friend calls that M&M eye(s)...almost all pupil

What a good girl! She looks a bit piratical in that photo. Wonderful news for little Melly.

Oh my goodness!!! So glad you and your daughter rescued her. She's such a cutie!

Update on Melmoth: stitches are out and she's an utter terror to toes, Eos (pleasingly round lip balm) and sleeping cats alike. She's now just a regular kitten who is perhaps a little more cautious than would otherwise be the case when she jumps on or off of something.

You and your daughter are true heroes! Yay! So glad she gets a loving kittenhood.

That is great news!

I have been watching this thread and when >27 RidgewayGirl: hadn't put anything on for awhile I was afraid Mel may not have made it. I'm so glad she's thriving. Would love to see updated picture of the little toe biter.

>30 morningwalker: The problem is that she is either moving at speed or asleep. Here she is, napping on the back of the sofa. All of the cats love this particular blanket.

whoa! she's doubled in size in a pretty short time! Seems she's doing just fine :D

So adorable. Thank you for being so kind and saving her.

Looks like a very happy kitty! All cats also like the back of the couch!

And here she is, valiantly taking on The Evil Toes.

She's an utterly normal kitten now. She is more cautious jumping and doesn't see things when they come at her from the right, but she's doing so well.

The other cats are adjusting to a new kitten. They are all fans of kitten food.

She's adorable; I'm so pleased to hear that she has adjusted well.

So lovely to read of people who don't look the other way and leave for others to respond. AND what a rare and lovely vet!

So happy all went well. I am such a softie, I am a bit teary.

All older history, now, but sometimes if you wipe butter or roast chicken fat on kitten, established cats will groom them and they settle faster.

>37 roomsofbooks: That's a lovely suggestion about buttering the kitten. She has settled in well and is becoming plump. She adores the German Shepherd, who tolerates her attentions as best she can. Here she is now.

What a beautiful kitty! She is so lucky to have you.

So glad she is doing well. She obviously picked the right rescuer!

She is such a beautiful tabby!

>38 RidgewayGirl: My boys say "Meow!"

Still hanging about...

Thanks for the reply.

It's one of the tricks you pick up in rescue, when you need to settle asap - and cats come and go much more often than normal. The roast chicken fat is probably the best lure

Magic green eye.

One eyed cats always make me smile. It's as tho they know a secret, and they know you share it, and they are giving you a long, knowing wink.

Here's my one-eyed guy, Oliver:
http://www.librarything.com/pic/4774947

It's kind of hard to tell which is good and which bad since he's squinching at us affectionately with both eyes (It's his left that's gone.)

(Sorry, couldn't figure out how to add the actual pic, so there it is from my Gallery.)

>43 Crypto-Willobie: Absolutely adorable!

>43 Crypto-Willobie: He's very good-looking!

Oliver thanks you!