When Bertie (officially named St. Bertrille) arrived at the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation at just a few days old, she weighed a fragile 70 grams and needed intensive care. Now, the once-tiny kitten has blossomed into a stunning, smokey-coated feline with an irresistibly smiley face—and a forever home to match her vibrant personality.
A Fight for Survival
Ellen Carozza, LVT, VTS (CP-Feline) and president of the foundation, took Bertie in, providing round-the-clock tube feedings and monitoring. For nearly two weeks, the kitten relied on an incubator to regulate her body temperature.
“She needed to be tube-fed before she could even suckle from a bottle, but she was feisty and determined,” Kimberly, Bertie’s foster volunteer, told Love Meow.
Once strong enough, Bertie would eagerly wait by the incubator window for her bottle every two hours. She soon became vocal at mealtimes, crawling toward Kimberly’s voice and filling the room with tiny squeaks—and eventually, a powerful purr.
A Tiny Explorer with a Big Personality
After graduating from the incubator, Bertie embraced her newfound freedom, toddling around like a pint-sized adventurer. She observed other kittens playing and, not one to be left out, scaled her fish bed to survey the room.
“It’s so funny to watch this tiny little kitten with eyes too big for her head crawl around and explore,” Kimberly said.
As she grew, Bertie mastered the litter box, befriended older cats, and zoomed around with boundless energy. Her coat, meanwhile, transformed into a striking smoke pattern—black-tipped fur with silver-gray roots. Unlike a temporary fever coat, caused by stress or illness, Bertie’s coloring was here to stay.
The Bathtub Lifeguard and WWE-Level Playtime
Bertie’s quirks charmed everyone around her. She often sported a permanent “blep”—her mouth slightly agape—and strutted through the house with runway-model confidence. She also took her self-appointed role as “bathtub lifeguard” seriously, perching on the edge during every soak and recruiting other cats to join her inspections.
Affectionate and playful, Bertie adored cuddles and wrestling matches with fellow foster kitten Frankie Bangs. “Despite his wonky back legs, their matches rivaled the WWE,” Kimberly joked.
A Happy Ending
When Bertie was ready for adoption, she quickly found her perfect match. Last weekend, she curled up in her new mom’s arms, placing a tiny paw on her hand as if to say, “You’re the chosen one.”
“She arrived in a box at about two days old, looking like a gummy bear,” Ellen said. “Now, she’s this glorious floof.”
From a fragile newborn to a radiant, smiley companion, Bertie’s journey is a testament to resilience—and the transformative power of love.
Related topics:
