Carly Toth, a dedicated cat coordinator at Pet Friends animal rescue, was on the scene of a feral cat colony when she received an unexpected call.
A friend, working to bring a newly found colony indoors before bad weather hit, had reached out for assistance. “I agreed to take in three semi-friendly cats,” Toth explained to The Dodo.
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However, just as she was leaving, her phone rang again. “There’s a frozen cat in McKeesport,” her friend said. “Can you find somewhere to take it?”
Encountering a frozen cat was unprecedented in Toth’s decade-long rescue career. Time was of the essence, as the cat was so cold and stiff, it was uncertain if she could be saved.
A veterinary team awaited its arrival, ready for action. A hopeful sign appeared when Lizzie B, a vet technician, detected a faint heartbeat, leading everyone to join efforts to revive the cat.
“When she came in, she was ice-cold,” Toth recounted. “It took three hours before her temperature even registered.”
Wrapped in warm towels and placed on a heating pad, the cat gradually regained consciousness and spirit. “The first thing she did upon waking was kneading her paws,” Lizzie B shared with The Dodo.
“She’s incredibly resilient. The look in her eyes is one of gratitude and happiness.”
Though unspayed and unvaccinated, the cat had a microchip. When contacted, the previous owner decided to surrender her instead of resuming care.
Having lived on the streets for over a month near her former home, the cat had injuries on her back legs that would require extensive medical attention.
After four hours at the veterinary clinic, the brave cat went home with Toth and survived the night. The following day, Toth named her Birthday, symbolizing the start of her new life.
Despite battling a leg infection and starvation, Birthday was filled with gratitude, purring wholeheartedly with every gesture of affection. Toth described her as “friendly and sweet as can be.”
As Birthday made regular vet visits to change her bandages, she grew close to Lizzie B. So much so, that Lizzie B decided to officially adopt her. “It wasn’t even a deliberate decision,” Lizzie B confided. “I just couldn’t imagine letting her go.”
Unfortunately, one of Birthday’s legs could not be saved and required amputation. Nonetheless, this will not hinder her joyous fresh start. Once she recovers from surgery and regains her health, she’ll move to her forever home with Lizzie B.
“There’s just something about her that’s indescribable,” Lizzie B said. “I remember being there when she first woke up, and just the other day, as I held her, I realized—I can’t let her be anywhere else. I truly love this cat.”
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