When Arlington Welfare League workers discovered she needed special care, they took her to the Nova Cat Clinic in Arlington, Virginia. At the age of six days, the tiny kitten weighed just 50 g.
She was the bravest of the bottle infants, despite being the tiniest. Helen Carozza, a trained feline assistant at Nova Cat Clinic, has included her in their charity program to aid kittens in need, which is supported by the Chris Griffey Foundation.
The infant, who was given the name Settler, showed she was a warrior from the start.
She grabs the bottle tightly and eats until her tummy fills up. Ellen and her team are working on a solution to her gastrointestinal problems and infection.
“There was an increase in weight – a lack of muscle mass was discovered. This is a common problem in newborns,” says Helen.
The Settler’s body temperature is maintained by placing her in an incubator for the duration of her slumber, ensuring that she is kept warm at all times.
After a week, the tiny girl’s hips and buttocks began to thicken a bit.
She was given a special microsweater, which keeps her warm and comfortable at all times.
She weighed 143 g at 16 days, indicating that she had grown to the size of a 1-week-old kitten. Deprived of their mother’s milk, newborns like her receive fewer antibodies and are vulnerable to diseases.
After contracting bacterial pneumonia, the migrant spent ten days in an oxygen tent. Throughout the therapy, the young warrior was cheerful.
“She inhaled antibiotics and antivirals many times a day,” Helen recounts.
“We’re lucky she recovered.”
At two months old, the Settler is still pocket-sized.
She eats well and continues to develop every day.
“Compared to her peers, she is unusually small, but behaves like an ordinary kitten,” says Helen.
“Hide-and-seek is her favorite game. She loves to threateningly rush around a corner and then flee.”
