A mother and daughter traveling from Georgia rescued a stray kitten just before she was nearly run over. The tiny cat, now named Miso, was found with serious injuries that have so far cost the family about $1,000 in veterinary care.
The story was shared on Reddit by Erin, 32, from Greenville, South Carolina. She explained that Miso, estimated to be only two to three weeks old, was found with a broken chin and needed urgent medical attention.
Erin wrote, “I’m feeling really overwhelmed and sad. I wish the world wasn’t so cruel to something so small and innocent. I just want to give her a fighting chance.”
Since neither her mom nor her sister could care for the kitten, Erin took her home despite having no experience with injured kittens. “I was stressed and anxious because she wasn’t eating, and I didn’t know how to care for her. I was a crying mess,” Erin told Newsweek. She added that Reddit users advised her to take Miso to an emergency vet and start a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs.
The emergency vet diagnosed Miso with a severe chin injury called a degloving injury, where the skin is torn off. Miso had surgery to reattach the skin, but she pulled out her stitches. Now, her family vet must perform another surgery.
Despite her injuries, Miso is improving and showing her true personality. Erin said, “She’s always moving and has a quirky, spunky personality.” The family dog, Aspen, has taken on a caring role, which Erin finds surprising since he usually doesn’t get along with other animals. “He seems to know she needs someone to look after her,” Erin said.
According to Georgia veterinarian Dr. Jess Kirk, outdoor cats face many dangers, including predators, lack of food and water, and traffic. While indoor cats can live into their 20s, stray cats usually survive only two to five years. About 5.4 million cats are hit by cars annually in the U.S., with 97 percent dying from their injuries.
Erin’s Reddit post has received over 1,400 upvotes and 119 comments. One user wrote, “Thank you so much for helping her!! I’m glad you took her to the vet and she will be OK.”
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