A terrified kitten who was found at a gas station has been given a second chance after being rescued – and the update has melted hearts on social media.
Reddit user u/shading_of_the_heart shared a post online about the kitten that her husband found at a gas station, “shivering and unable to walk.” The kitten, who is thought to be around 4 months old, was discovered next to the gas pump and was noticeably “filthy with grease and oil.”
As she was in such a poor condition, the cat’s eyes (and one nostril) were sealed shut with mucus. With no way of seeing, the poor kitten could barely walk or move.
Without hesitation, the Reddit poster’s husband “snatched her right up” and took her home.
The post continues: “We took her to our vet first thing the next morning and now she’s on antibiotics and high calorie wet food along with Tiki Baby Thrive pouches while we nurse her back to health.”
Indeed, user u/shading_of_the_heart added that she feared the cat had some sort of neurological condition because she was “so wobbly.” However, the cat, named Carli, appears to be getting stronger and steadier by the day, helped by the fact she can open her eyes now.
After sharing pictures of the rescue cat online, u/shading_of_the_heart’s post went viral in a matter of hours with over 36,000 views and more than 890 comments at the time of writing.
Newsweek has contacted u/shading_of_the_heart via Reddit for comment.
The cat weighed just 3 pounds when she was seen by the vet, but thankfully she appears to be gaining weight healthily now. She is also receiving oral antibiotics, antibiotics eye ointment, and was given an antibiotic injection by the vet.
Carli was given her vaccines and tested by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), but until the results come back, she has to remain in isolation. If she was positive, she could pass the infectious disease onto u/shading_of_the_heart’s other cats in the home.
Nonetheless, the couple are doing everything they can to help their newest addition feel safe and loved. “The only other thing she needs is plenty of TLC and we are more than happy to spoil her,” u/shading_of_the_heart wrote on Reddit.
As it turns out, the day Carli was rescued was already a significant day for the family. Explaining online, u/shading_of_the_heart said that it was the anniversary of her daughter’s feral soul cat, named Carlos, passing away.
It seemed like fate that her husband should go to the gas station and find another cat in need of a home on that very day—hence why she’s been given the name Carli.
“Hubby never goes to that gas station and can’t explain why he did that night. We believe Carlos led him to this desperate kitten and she is now in her forever home,” the Reddit post continues.
In addition to Carli, the kitten has also earned the name Tippy because of her wobbly movements.
Carli is getting “stronger by the day,” and she can’t get enough of certain luxuries, like a cozy lap and a warm heater. The reddit user is so glad her husband found Carli and gave her a second chance at life.
“She snuggles into our laps or necks and rubs her face on ours. I don’t know how she ended up at that gas station, but we are absolutely thrilled to add her to our family,” the post reads.
Carli’s rescue story has certainly melted plenty of hearts since it was shared online. This has led to hundreds of comments on the Reddit post, as internet users praised her new owners for saving her life.
One Reddit user wrote: “Thank you for saving her! She looks better already.”
Another commenter replied: “I’m not crying. She’s so lucky to have you guys.”
While another comment reads: “Thank you for saving this baby! And thank you to Carlos for leading you to her so she gets to know the love he did.”
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