From Near-Death to New Life: A Frozen Cat’s Incredible Journey to Finding Love
When a tiny black and white cat crawled up an icy Pittsburgh driveway in the depths of winter, no one could have predicted the remarkable story of survival and love that would unfold. Weighing just four pounds and battling both hunger and infection, she collapsed in the snow, her body beginning to freeze to the ground.
Carly Toth, the cat coordinator at Pet Friends animal rescue, received an urgent call while tending to a nearby feral colony. “I had just pulled away when my friend called about a frozen cat in McKeesport,” Toth recalls. In her decade of rescue work, this was her first encounter with a cat in such a dire condition.
Racing against time, Toth brought the cat to a veterinary clinic where the team, including vet tech Lizzie B., immediately began life-saving measures. The situation was critical – the cat’s body temperature was so low it didn’t register on thermometers for three hours. But beneath the hypothermia, a faint heartbeat signaled hope.
Wrapped in warm towels and placed on heating pads, the cat gradually regained consciousness. Her first response touched everyone’s hearts. “As soon as she woke up, she started making biscuits,” Lizzie B. shares. “The way she looks at you – so thankful, so happy to be alive – it’s incredible.”
Though microchipped, the cat’s previous owner surrendered her upon contact. She had been surviving on the streets for over a month near her former home, developing serious wounds on her back legs that would require extensive treatment.
Toth took the survivor home and named her Birthday – marking the first day of her new life. Despite her ordeal and ongoing medical challenges, Birthday’s sweet nature shone through. She purred constantly, grateful for every bit of attention and care she received.
During her frequent visits for bandage changes, Birthday formed a special bond with Lizzie B. “There’s just something about her that I can’t put into words,” Lizzie B. explains. “Being one of the first nurses to help when she woke up… I just knew I couldn’t let her go anywhere else.”
Though one of Birthday’s legs ultimately required amputation, her spirit remained unbroken. Once she recovers from surgery and reaches a healthy weight, Birthday will join Lizzie B.’s family permanently – a fitting happy ending for a cat who refused to give up.
“It wasn’t even a conscious choice,” Lizzie B. reflects. “I just have to keep her in my life.” From freezing in a driveway to finding her forever home with one of the very people who helped save her, Birthday’s journey exemplifies the incredible resilience of animals and the profound connections they forge with their rescuers.
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