Cats’ journeys throughout their lives are truly miraculous. One moment, they’re struggling to survive on the streets, and the next, they’re thriving in a loving home – if they’re fortunate enough.
Such was the case with this calico feline. The stray cat, later named Pickle, was desperately crying for help in the bushes.
Fortunately, an experienced fosterer named AP Miller found her just in time. What Miller learned later, however, left her heartbroken.
It all happened one day as Miller was walking home. While passing by some bushes, she heard an unusual sound coming from within.
Curious, Miller took a closer look and spotted a stray calico cat desperately crying for help.
She immediately knew the poor feline needed assistance but remained cautious. Miller shared in an interview:
“Normally, if I were to make eye contact with a cat outside, they would run away. But this one kept crying.”
To her surprise, Pickle didn’t run away, but she moved in an unusual way that broke Miller’s heart. She explained:
“I knew something was wrong. I phoned a friend who told me to just call animal control, but I knew this cat needed help.”
Miller rushed to the nearby store to get a box, gently placed Pickle inside, and rushed her to the emergency vet.
The vets estimated Pickle to be around 3-5 years old, and she was not microchipped. But that wasn’t the most troubling news.
Pickle weighed only four pounds and couldn’t walk. Miller shared the results of the thorough examination:
“We learned this was from a fracture on both sides of her pelvis. She had a cut on her nose that was filled with dirt. I spent all night at the emergency vet, waiting to see if she had a chance.”
Pickle’s prognosis was grim, but she showed an incredible will to live. With love, care, rest, and nutritious food, she soon began to recover, even starting to use her legs to walk.
Everyone was stunned by her quick recovery, especially Miller, who shared:
“There’s clearly something special about this sweet girl. She was determined to live from the moment I met her – she was brave enough to ask for help from any passerby. I named her Pickle because she was really ‘in a pickle’ when I found her.”
However, Pickle’s journey to full recovery wasn’t over, and her needs were beyond what Miller could provide.
Luckily, a neighbor connected Miller to Tails High, a cat rescue in Virginia, which instantly offered their help.
Thanks to the rescue’s heartwarming welcome, Pickle continued her journey towards a better life.
With lots of love and dedicated care, she quickly transformed into a strong, playful, and affectionate feline. Miller shared with excitement:
“She was immediately very cuddly and mischievous as she could be, knocking over plants and digging in their soil. My best friend and I joke that she’s a chaos gremlin because she loves to do wild things like jump on counters, do catnip zoomies, and literally climb walls.”
Besides her playful nature, Pickle also loved the company of her feline and canine friends. Miller added:
“She became quick friends with my former resident dog and foster fail Croissant (the cat).”
Seeing Pickle thrive after everything she had endured made Miller realize she could never part with her.
So, after Pickle made a full recovery, she went to a forever home where she now thrives with Croissant and her loving human, Miller, who gave her a helping hand when she needed it the most.
Leave a comment