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 ...
"Dinner?" (j/k!)
The desert creatures theory is interesting - it would explain why they like sand so much. ;^)
“The desert creatures theory is interesting...”
I actually heard it on NPR!
That cat has had tequila training!!!
Ooooh! Redondo Beach! High-class new digs for Ni Hao. Here’s hoping that the new servants of the cat keep him indoors.
U DUZ IT KYOOT
Seconded.
Yes, it is, and I agree that those folks were wonderful.
But I was talking about the genesis of suffering in the world, in general-—not so much this specific incident.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.