Now she’s thriving halfway around the world.
No One Stopped for This Frail Cat—Until One Woman Changed Everything
In the corner of a concrete building in Dubai, a fragile black-and-white cat quietly watched the world go by. Her coat was matted and grimy, her eyes crusted over. She barely moved. Day after day, people walked past without stopping—until word of her reached Tasqueen Zahra Akkas, founder of Ty’s Rescues & Friends.
“She looked awful and so fragile,” Akkas shared in a video about the rescue.
Akkas gently wrapped the cat in a blanket. As they drove away, the cat melted into her rescuer’s arms—relieved to finally be safe.
A Fight for Life
At the vet, the tiny cat—now named Baby Girl—weighed only 3.5 pounds. She was so thin, and yet she had no appetite. Her eyes were filled with a deep sadness, and she barely had the energy to move.
Blood tests finally gave some answers: Baby Girl had hyperthyroidism, a hormonal disorder that can cause extreme weight loss, poor appetite, and greasy fur.
“They started giving her medication to help her system get back to normal,” said Evelyn Bukiejko, adoption coordinator for Ty’s Rescues & Friends. “She started eating, she started being more active, and we just saw, like, a different cat.”
And a transformation it was. Over four months, Baby Girl gained almost 4 pounds. Her fur became soft and clean, her eyes brightened, and her energy returned.
A Home Across the World
Even with her recovery, finding a home for a cat who needs lifelong medication isn’t easy.
“Not many people would be willing to consider a cat [who] has those sorts of needs,” Bukiejko explained.
But across the world in Indiana, a woman named Kim McCullough saw Baby Girl’s story on Instagram—and instantly connected with her.
“I just really felt for her,” McCullough said. “It’s hard enough for perfect cats to get adopted, let alone one who needs daily medication.”
McCullough already had two cats with hyperthyroidism. Giving medicine was second nature—and loving cats with special needs was something she was already doing.
Thinking the distance might be too great, she applied anyway.
“I thought she was too far away to adopt,” she posted. But after a Zoom call with the rescue, it was official: Baby Girl was going to America.
A New Life, Full of Love
Baby Girl landed safely in Chicago and quickly settled into her new home. Her favorite thing? Eating, of course. She’s healthy, joyful, and thriving.
“She has already brought us so much joy,” McCullough wrote. “Best decision ever.”
These days, Baby Girl’s favorite hobby is waiting at the top of the stairs, flattening herself like a pancake, and smacking her feline siblings on the butt as they pass by.
“It’s really funny to see her get the zoomies and want to play,” McCullough said. “Mostly, she’s a mellow cat who just loves to eat and sleep.”