“It took three hours for her temperature to even register on the thermometer.”
A Tiny Cat in a Life-Threatening Situation
On a cold suburban street outside Pittsburgh, a 4-pound black-and-white cat dragged herself up an icy driveway, weakened by hunger and infection. Exhausted, she collapsed into the snow, freezing against the ground.
Nearby, Carly Toth, cat coordinator at the rescue group Pet Friends, was working with a feral cat colony when she received an urgent call.
“There’s a frozen cat in McKeesport. Can you find somewhere to take it?”
Toth knew time was critical.
Racing Against the Cold
At the veterinary clinic, the cat’s condition was dire. She was so cold and stiff that it was unclear if she could survive. Vet tech Lizzie B. wrapped her in blankets and brought her to the doctors.
“She was as cold as she could get. It took three hours for her temperature to even register,” Toth said.
Slowly, under warm towels and heating pads, the little cat began to stir. Her first sign of life? Kneading with her paws—showing her fighting spirit.
“Just as soon as she woke up, the first thing she was doing was making biscuits,” Lizzie B. said. “She’s so resilient and thankful to be here.”
A New Name, A New Start
The cat wasn’t spayed or vaccinated, but she had a microchip. Her previous owner chose to surrender her rather than continue her care. Toth brought her home after four hours of treatment and named her Birthday, marking the beginning of her second chance at life.
Despite her injuries and starvation, Birthday was affectionate and grateful, purring with her entire body.
“She’s friendly as can be. She’s sweet as pie,” Toth said.
Finding Her Forever Home
During near-daily vet visits for bandage changes, Birthday formed a special bond with Lizzie B., the vet tech who had helped revive her. Soon, Lizzie realized she couldn’t let Birthday go.
“It wasn’t even a conscious choice. I just can’t let her go,” Lizzie said.
One of Birthday’s legs could not be saved and had to be amputated. But this tiny survivor is undeterred—she’s on the path to recovery and a healthy life. Once she’s fully healed, Birthday will go home with Lizzie, her biggest fan.
“There’s just something about her. I can’t put it into words. I love this cat,” Lizzie said.