Kitten Weighs Only 5 Ounces. With The Help Of A Loving Rescuer, Look At ‘Small Fry’ Now!
Small Fry was a runt who was born with a host of problems that prevented her from nursing. She was on the edge of death before a loving rescuer stepped in...
Last year, a litter of six kittens was born. Unfortunately, however, the runt was not able to nurse. The little baby was getting weaker and smaller by the minute, but luckily a dedicated woman managed to turn the kitten’s luck around.
Hannah Shaw, also known as the Kitten Lady, is an avid kitten rescuer. Last year, she was contacted by a cat owner whose cat had had kittens. Although Hannah usually works with orphaned kittens, when she heard the runt of the litter wasn’t able to nurse, she knew she had to help.
When Hannah met the kitten, she was shocked by how small and frail she looked. At three weeks old, she weighed only 5 ounces— about the size of an average 1-week-old. “[The cat] was drastically smaller than her siblings,” Hannah told Love Meow. “She was really thin. I could feel her every rib.”
The cat was named Small Fry, and sadly, they soon learned she had a host of other problems to deal with.
After a visit to the vet, Small Fry was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection (which prevented her from nursing), a case of anemia, and a heart murmur. She would have to be hand-reared and would require round-the-clock care and medication to survive. Despite all the obstacles, Hannah refused to give up.
Every day, she would tube feed Small Fry and give the kitten her supplements and medications. She also made sure the kitten was warm and hydrated at all times.
“Between all of the medications, supplements, the nursing care and the tube-feeding, she started to feel a little better,” Hannah said. “Four days into this care I noticed something incredible. She was starting to try to nurse!”
“This was an absolute game changer. It meant that she was feeling well enough to breathe and want to eat. She was able to get all the great nutrients from her mother’s milk.”
One short week later, the tiny kitten had doubled in size and was well on her way to health! As she got bigger, she grew incredibly close to her sister Poutine, and the two became the very best of friends.
They were adopted out together into a loving foster home, and although it was tough for Hannah to say goodbye, she said, “It’s a celebration when you’ve found them a loving home. There’s nothing more rewarding than giving a tiny kitten a chance at life.”
Small Fry and Poutine’s parents say the two have been having a blast with their new family. “[This picture is] is a pretty accurate representation of these two crazy potatoes,” they wrote alongside the following shot.
Hannah says Small Fry and Poutine are a testament to what is possible when you try to protect the sick and the vulnerable instead of giving up on them.
“Small Fry and others like her are worth it!” she says.
