Last spring in Boone, Iowa, firefighters raced to extinguish a barn fire, receiving word that a litter of kittens might be trapped inside. As they battled the blaze, they discovered four tiny kittens struggling to survive among the wreckage.
Though alive, these five-week-old kittens were in a precarious state, covered in soot and having trouble breathing. Fortunately, the Boone Area Humane Society (BAHS) was quick to respond as well, providing lifesaving oxygen to the distressed kittens.
Three of these kittens turned out to be remarkably rare. Once cleaned, their coats revealed striking orange fur, and they were all female.
According to Dr. Sandra C. Mitchell, a veterinarian writing for PetMD, only about 20% of orange cats are female, making them part of an exclusive group.
The smallest of the group faced the most daunting challenges, with severe burns on her face and paws. All four kittens were swiftly taken to the veterinarian, where they hoped for a positive outcome.
With gentle care and some pain relief, the kittens’ conditions improved. They started eating from syringes and breathing more easily.
However, the smallest kitten, later named Penelope, needed to muster more strength than her sisters in her fight to recover.
“She was pretty severely burned,” Kim Adams, the social media manager for BAHS, shared with The Dodo. “She lost a lot of fur.”
Penelope’s left eye had sustained significant damage. Concerned about her vision, staff diligently treated her wounds and applied medication to her eye every few hours.
Despite the daunting prognosis, Penelope remained resilient, described by Adams as “a little fuzzy thing who just wanted to purr and snuggle.”
Determined to save her sight, the BAHS shelter director took the lead on Penelope’s care. While her siblings were sent to a foster home, Penelope received round-the-clock attention at the director’s home.
Over a month of vigilant care and nurturing paid off. Penelope’s sight was saved, and she was ready to join her siblings in foster care. “It was touch and go for a while,” BAHS shared on Facebook. “But this brave little girl is a survivor!”
Although Penelope would have permanent scar tissue around her eye, it did not seem to hinder her spirit. Once in foster care with her sisters, she thrived, rediscovering the joy of playing and snuggling with her newfound family.
In the ensuing months, Penelope underwent an incredible transformation. Her orange fur grew back beautifully, and her affectionate nature shone brightly.
“She was always so sweet and loved everyone the moment she showed up,” her foster mom fondly recalled. “She loves to give hugs.”
Recently, three months after the harrowing fire, Penelope found her forever home. She was adopted alongside one of her sisters, and her new family lovingly renamed her Penny Rippa.
“She is so perfect in every way,” Penny’s new mom shared with BAHS. “My lil’ love bug, Penny Rippa! She is so loved here… and nothing is going to slow this girl down.”
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