Fluffy, a gorgeous furball who lives with her owners in Kalispell, Montana, was discovered with voluminous fur covered in ice and snow. After being thawed out, she was happily showered with her humans’ love as well as the netizens’ supporting. So what was the story behind this miracle?
More info: Facebook | (h/t: boredpanda)
The city was hit by ice, fog and snow due to sub-zero temperatures between 1 (30F) and 8 degrees (17F). In an interview with Bored Panda, Andrea Dutter, the Executive Director of the Kalispell Animal Clinic, said, “When we saw Fluffy, I would have to say that our initial thoughts were that of any other patient in distress.” “All hands on deck and let’s thaw this sweet baby girl out! In moments like this, you have to take it one minute at a time.”
Dr. Jevon Clark, who works at the clinic, recalled that when Fluffy was first brought in her temperature was so slow it didn’t register on the thermometer – which had a bottom range of 90 degrees. The normal body temperature of a cat is about 101 degrees.
“Fluffy had a heartbeat the whole time!” Dutter added. “She never was pronounced dead – just REALLY cold, nearly frozen. We began thawing her out right away with different methods, starting with warm water running over her to melt the snow and ice. Then we used warm towels from the dryer that we rotated out, we used hair dryers, heating pads, and then when her temp was up enough we were able to get a catheter in her to start IV fluids.”
After using warm water and a blanket for 2 hours, the kitty’s body temperature was still too low. Then she was taken to the emergency room and after a few hours eventually began to show signs of recovery.
“We are never given any guarantee that any method of medical attention will be successful (no matter what species you are). In Fluffy’s case, she is fortunate to be young (3 years old) and healthy. She had a will to survive and she has proven that to us, and the world.”
The most essential factor in Fluffy’s recovery was that her owners did not hesitate when they returned home and found her. “They did the right thing. They immediately brought her to us. Her owners love her and care a lot about her, as do we. They knew and trusted that bringing Fluffy to her doctor(s) was her best option. It was an awful situation, but everything fell in line perfectly to allow her to have a remarkable recovery.”
Fluffy has fully recovered, returned home with her kind-hearted humans. Veterinary hospital shared an “amazing survival story” on Facebook page.
“We truly hope that Fluffy’s story can help other pet owners be aware of ways to help their indoor and outdoor pets stay safe and the importance of seeking medical attention right away vs attempting to treat their pets on their own. Our doctors and staff didn’t do anything different than any other veterinarian and team would do. We (and Fluffy!) are grateful for Fluffy’s owners for acting quickly in a scary situation.”
This miraculous recovery story has smitten lots of cat lovers
