At six days old, this kitten was half the size of a newborn. Despite its petite size, it has the soul of a warrior.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
The paw-sized kitten was transferred to the Nova Cat Clinic in Arlington, Virginia. The kitten was only a week old and weighed just 50 grams.
Despite being smaller than a kitten-sized bottle, it was incredibly brave. Ellen Carozza, a practicing veterinarian at Nova Cat Clinic, delivered him to the Chris Griffey Memorial Cat Fund, a charitable program designed to help critically ill kittens.
Named Magrat, he proved to be a fighter from day one.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
He clung to his bottle and ate as much as he could. Ellen and her team worked hard to treat her gastrointestinal problems and infections.
She was gaining weight, but not muscle. This is a problem for newborns,” says Ellen.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
To help McGrath regulate her body temperature, we put her in an incubator while she napped.
After a week, the kitten’s hips and tail finally started to get padded.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
She also wore her own kitten-sized sweater to stay warm and cozy.
By 16 days old, she weighed 143 grams, the same size as a normal week-old kitten.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
Newborn kittens like Magrat are particularly susceptible to infections because they lack the natural antibodies found in breast milk.
Magrat contracted bacterial pneumonia and spent 10 days in an oxygen tent. The little fighter remained in good spirits throughout his treatment.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
Ellen told Love Meow: “She was nebulized several times a day and given antibiotics and antiviral medication.
We were very lucky.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
Right now, two-month-old Magrat is still pocket-sized.
She’s eating well and growing steadily every day.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
Ellen says, “Other than being abnormally small for a kitten her age, her demeanor is nothing like a normal kitten.
Her favorite thing to do is play hide and seek. I like to run outside and scare them away.”
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
This leopard-like kitten is determined to get rid of Ellen’s scrub bag one day.
She won’t let anything stop her.
Ellen Carozza @thecatlvt
Share this story with your friends. Follow updates on Magrat and Ellen’s rescues on Instagram and Facebook.
