Animals never stop amazing me with how tough they can be, even when life throws the toughest challenges their way.
Toast, a tiny kitten found after a terrible fire, is a perfect example of that. Her story is all about survival, love, and the incredible people who refuse to let her give up.
It shows that no matter how hard things get, there’s always hope if someone cares enough to fight for you.
Amanda Hodder from Kitten Rescue Life in Southern California is one of those people. When she heard about the little kitten pulled from an encampment fire in the Redlands, she didn’t think twice.
The little furball, nine weeks old, had suffered the worst burns you could imagine – burns to her face, ears, paw pads, and tail.
She had been hospitalized for a couple of days and was heading to the vet for more care when Amanda stepped in, ready to do whatever it took to help her heal.
Despite unimaginable pain and severe injuries, Toast clung to life with remarkable resilience. Even when it seemed like the world was too much for her, she reached out for comfort and love, as Amanda shared in an interview:
“The injuries she’s sustained are heartbreaking. Despite the pain, Toast has shown incredible strength and resilience, reaching out for love and comfort when we thought she might be too frightened to do so.”
Toast’s story was just beginning, but she had already proven one thing: she was a fighter.
When Toast arrived at the vet, her condition was even worse than expected, as Amanda explained:
“She has 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over her body. These burns are on her ears, around her eyes and nose, tummy, tail, and the bottom of all four feet. She is missing toenails, has abscessing between all of her digits, her feet are painfully swollen and she had a fever on intake.”
The vets knew the road ahead would be long, but they also knew that with proper care and love, Toast had a chance.
So, she had to remain in the hospital for surgery, daily treatments, and a lot of pain management. Yet, through it all, Toast kept showing that she was a true survivor with so much heart.
After the main treatments had been done, her burns started to heal as the damaged tissue sloughed off, as Amanda explained:
“She was anesthetized and had a debridement which is the process of removing all the damaged and dead skin. Now that she’s had the debridement she has four “bonkers” on to keep her legs safe as they heal.”
As the little warrior began to make strides in her recovery, a big milestone came her way – she finally left the hospital and moved into her foster home where her healing continued under Amanda’s loving care.
For such a tiny kitten who had already been through so much, this was a new chapter filled with hope, patience, and lots of gentle attention. Amanda shared:
“She is on pain meds, antibiotics, and eye ointment as well as topical ointment for her burns. Her care will continue in foster with weekly vet visits as long as everything is healing properly and going okay.”
Thanks to the overwhelming support from kind-hearted people, Toast was doing really well. Her healing routine was demanding, with daily wound care, medications, and bandage changes, but it was all worth it, as Amanda shared:
“Toast has been receiving the best possible care, and we’re seeing wonderful progress every day. She’s eating well, getting lots of cuddles, and takes medicine like a champ.”
Slowly but surely, Toast was learning to trust and heal.
Sadly, during her follow-up visit, the vets gave devastating news. One of Toast’s legs had been so badly damaged by the fire that it couldn’t be saved.
Hearing the news that Toast’s little leg had to be amputated was absolutely heartbreaking. After everything she had been through, it felt like yet another unfair blow.
But if there was one thing Toast has shown everyone, it was that she is a fighter through and through, which is why Amanda feels hopeful. She knows that with her unshakable spirit, Toast will adjust just fine with her three remaining legs.
While the road ahead will still have its challenges, Amanda is ready to support Toast every step of the way, making sure she can thrive in her new chapter.
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