Posted on 09/06/2012 6:12:01 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
LOS ANGELES - A stowaway kitten who survived a three-week ocean voyage from China to California trapped in a storage container without food or water has found a new home.
Los Angeles County animal control officials said Friday that the cat, which has been named Ni Hao (NEE' how) or "hello" in Chinese, will leave the animal hospital he's called home since turning up in the U.S. last month to start life next week with a family in the LA suburb of Redondo Beach.
-snip-
The now 5-month-old kitten was found July 11.
It couldn't walk, see, or make any sounds.
An officer said the kitten had shallow breathing and was "curled up in a ball with his eyes shut," said animal control official Aaron Reyes.
"And he actually appeared deceased," he added.
The cat was rushed to a care center where veterinarians say he has thrived.
The only lingering sign of trauma is a limp, which Reyes describes as "his own strut."
The kitten suffered considerable muscle atrophy on the journey, causing him to walk with a ginger, unusual gait, Reyes said.
Ni Hao is "still a bit wobbly" and "may end up being a special needs kitty for life," said Reyes, deputy director of the county's animal control department.
But, Reyes said, "he's gone from this shriveled up little kitten with shallow breathing and knocking on death's door to this curious, playful, bouncy, affectionate, patient, little furry kitty."
-snip-
County shelter workers have a couple of theories to explain how Ni Hao survived, Reyes said. They think he ate or drank something just before wandering into the container, he said, or "he is so young his resilience is off the charts."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailynews.com ...
Thanks, Anonymous Sender-Inner!
S'okay, I hear California Medicare covers that. As well it should.
/sarc
Stowaway Kitty Ping.
So heartbreaking....I’ll never understand how God lets innocents like animals suffer so....
Yeah, he looks a little shaky, but welcome to America little bud.
I’d welcome him into my house, but I’m not sure my two girlies, Xiao Hu (Little Tiger) and Mao (the animal that makes the mao,,, meow, sound) would approve! And,,, yes,,, they’re named after two commie dictators! And that’s how they run my house!
That’s what I thought. Ni Hao, that is Meow at my house.
Poor little guy, well, now he’s going to learn all about Purrrrina;)
A very heart-warming story to a guy who has had catz since he was two!
Poor little kitty! Glad this story has a happy ending though!
The Dems have already registered him to vote.
And human slaves to fetch it for him!
Amen!
Something tells me that Ni Hao has also discovered the Cone Of Shame.
It is heartbreaking, but don’t blame God...the blame doesn’t lie with Him. Blame stupid humanity for bringing suffering into the world.
God loves this little kitten....He found the baby a home.
And cat in Chinese is “mi ow”
“County shelter workers have a couple of theories to explain how Ni Hao survived...”
I would think professional animal people like that would know that cats have 9 lives.
And I think they really do. 3 weeks! That’s amazing.
I did hear years ago that cats are basically desert creatures, they’re like camels and can go with very little water for a long time, but 3 weeks!
God bless this little kitty, I hope he finds a good home here in the USA.
I highly doubt that God or Man is to blame here, even the Red Chicoms....I’m pretty sure that cat got himself into that container.
Actually we should also say God bless the dockworkers who found him and the vets who saved him.
It really is an amazing story.
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