When rescuers found Peggy’s pregnant mother in an abandoned pub along with 20 other cats, the RSPCA quickly stepped in to help. After being brought to safety, the exhausted mama cat gave birth at the shelter — but the stress of her ordeal was too much to handle. Just two days after Peggy was born, her mother rejected her, leaving the tiny kitten fighting to survive.
At barely 48 hours old, Peggy was fragile, weak, and in desperate need of care. That’s when RSPCA inspector Leanne Booth stepped in to foster her. Booth bottle-fed Peggy around the clock, keeping her warm and comforted. At first, Peggy was just a small silver-and-gray bundle of fur, but she soon began to grow stronger — and surprise everyone with an unexpected transformation.
As Peggy’s health improved, her coat began to change. The pale silver hue faded away, revealing sleek black fur underneath. Booth later learned that Peggy had been born with a fever coat — a temporary discoloration caused when a mother cat experiences stress or illness during pregnancy. It was likely one of the reasons Peggy’s mother had struggled to care for her.
Soon, Peggy blossomed into a lively, affectionate black kitten full of personality. Booth worried that it might take time to find her a home — black cats are often overlooked by adopters — but fate had other plans.
Cheryl Hague, another RSPCA employee, fell in love with Peggy’s story while working on an adoption campaign and decided to give her a forever home, just in time for Halloween.
Today, Peggy is thriving — playful, confident, and adored by her new family. For Booth, saying goodbye was bittersweet, but she finds comfort knowing Peggy’s story has a joyful ending. “The happy endings are really the best part of my job,” Booth said.