Cat Frozen In Snow Makes Miraculous Recovery After Veterinarians Spend Hours Fighting For Her Life
When Fluffy the cat arrived at the animal clinic it didn’t look good. Found in a snow bank in Montana, Fluffy was unresponsive and had her fur matted with ice. The veterinarians, however, refused to give up on her.
Image credits: AnimalClinicOfKalispell
“When we saw Fluffy, I would have to say that our initial thoughts were that of any other patient in distress,” Andrea Dutter, the Executive Director of the Animal Clinic of Kalispell told Bored Panda. “All hands on deck and let’s thaw this sweet baby girl out! In moments like this, you have to take it one minute at a time.”
When the staff measured Fluffy’s temperature at the clinic, it was so low, it didn’t even register on a thermometer with a bottom range of 90 degrees. To put that into perspective, cats’ normal body temperature is somewhere around 101 degrees.
“Fluffy had a heartbeat the whole time,” Dutter added. “She never was pronounced dead – just REALLY cold, nearly frozen. We began thawing her out right away with different methods, starting with warm water running over her to melt the snow and ice. Then we used warm towels from the dryer that we rotated out, we used hair dryers, heating pads, and then when her temp was up enough we were able to get a catheter in her to start IV fluids.”
Image credits: AnimalClinicOfKalispell
After two long hours of using warm water and blankets, Fluffy’s temperature was still too low, so they took her to the emergency room. There, after a few more hours, it finally began to rise. Eventually, the furball fully recovered.
“We are never given any guarantee that any method of medical attention will be successful (no matter what species you are). In Fluffy’s case, she is fortunate to be young (3 years old) and healthy. She had a will to survive and she has proven that to us, and the world.”
The most important thing that helped Fluffy get back on her feet was that her owners didn’t hesitate when they came home and found her. “They did the right thing. They immediately brought her to us. Her owners love her and care a lot about her, as do we. They knew and trusted that bringing Fluffy to her doctor(s) was her best option. It was an awful situation, but everything fell in line perfectly to allow her to have a remarkable recovery.”
Now, Fluffy is back at home with her humans, enjoying life to the fullest.
Image credits: AnimalClinicOfKalispell
“We truly hope that Fluffy’s story can help other pet owners be aware of ways to help their indoor and outdoor pets stay safe and the importance of seeking medical attention right away vs attempting to treat their pets on their own. Our doctors and staff didn’t do anything different than any other veterinarian and team would do. We (and Fluffy!) are grateful for Fluffy’s owners for acting quickly in a scary situation.”
More info: Facebook
People had a lot to say about the whole situation
Just a great story with a happy ending. Proves you should never give up hope :)
It's just sad to think that animals are out and no one finds them... 😔😔😔😔
Looking at the quality of the cat's coat and the fact that she looks like she is of normal weight ie not starved I'm guessing she came from a good home but went out one day and got lost in the snow. My sister who has been a HUGE cat lover all her life had a cat who would go out in the morning and come home at night. She disappeared for several months once and my sister was devastated. She looked everywhere for her with no luck. Three months later she was at a post office several miles from her house and she spotted her. When she called the cat over and saw it was hers she was so amazed and happy. For her it was better than a lottery win. I hope this is the same for this beautiful cat and that she too has a loving home to return to. She deserves it. And well done to the wonderful people who cared for her. You all are true angels.
Poor kitty.Great that they found some life left in that frozen ice.Well, Fonzie Bulldog stays put in his bed this winter and i sometimes tries to get him out but its not easy because of the cold. Fonzie-Bul...b95169.jpg 
We need more positivity on this Earth. I’m glad Fluffy made a full recovery. May he receive plenty of warm hugs forevermore!
awww :( This makes me happy for the cat that got saved but sad for all the cats in the world who are not as fortunate
Poor kitty.Great that they found some life left in that frozen ice.Well, Fonzie Bulldog stays put in his bed this this winter and i sometimes tries to get him out but its not easy because of the cold. Fonzie-Bul...7dbc24.jpg 
Good pet owners PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR CATS and don't let them "sneak outside". I have an escape artist cat and he has NEVER NEVER NEVER (knock on head) escaped on my watch in 16 years. PAY ATTENTION.
As amazing and good the sotry is, I still want to know HOW did Fluffy end up outside in such a weather.
I seriously don’t know why I read these, I get so upset!!! Yay, Fluffy!!!
You guys all rock... Fluffy is a very lucky kitty glad nobody gave up on him!
I've never understood how a creature can have extreme hypothermia yet not end up with frostbite, yet you can get frostbite without even getting to the point of hypothermia. Anyone know?
heard this from a Dr friend of mine "they are not dead till they are warm"... when people, especially kids fall in icy/cold water and you pull them out and you dont feel a pulse or signs of life... cpr should be continued until the body is warm, thats when you know they are really dead.
Kitties should ALL be indoor-only pets. I hope Fluffy's family will never let her out of their house again. Not only is it dangerous to kitties to go outside, it is also terrible for songbirds, butterflies and many beneficial insects for domestic kitties to be running around outside. Our darling kitties are complete loves in our homes, but outside, they can be destructive to other beautiful and innocent critters. Keep your kitties in your house!
for those who think that its animal abuse to put you cat outside, i have a cat who was a stray kitten when we first got him, his never used a litter box and often stays nearby as his weary of strangers. It may be advised for those who live in areas of extrem cold temperatures to keep a cat avery in winter and attach it to the main house. there is even the possibility of the cat getting out without the owners knowing.
Nobody said that it was animal abuse. Of course it’s not. Things happen.
Load More Replies...
Pfff..... in Nordic countries it's totally normal that pets go outside for pee. Even human babies sleep in carriages outside.
That's assuming she was put out and didn't sneak out/escape.
Load More Replies...
... and let you die along with the other neanderthals.
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Just a great story with a happy ending. Proves you should never give up hope :)
It's just sad to think that animals are out and no one finds them... 😔😔😔😔
Looking at the quality of the cat's coat and the fact that she looks like she is of normal weight ie not starved I'm guessing she came from a good home but went out one day and got lost in the snow. My sister who has been a HUGE cat lover all her life had a cat who would go out in the morning and come home at night. She disappeared for several months once and my sister was devastated. She looked everywhere for her with no luck. Three months later she was at a post office several miles from her house and she spotted her. When she called the cat over and saw it was hers she was so amazed and happy. For her it was better than a lottery win. I hope this is the same for this beautiful cat and that she too has a loving home to return to. She deserves it. And well done to the wonderful people who cared for her. You all are true angels.
Poor kitty.Great that they found some life left in that frozen ice.Well, Fonzie Bulldog stays put in his bed this winter and i sometimes tries to get him out but its not easy because of the cold. Fonzie-Bul...b95169.jpg
We need more positivity on this Earth. I’m glad Fluffy made a full recovery. May he receive plenty of warm hugs forevermore!
awww :( This makes me happy for the cat that got saved but sad for all the cats in the world who are not as fortunate
Poor kitty.Great that they found some life left in that frozen ice.Well, Fonzie Bulldog stays put in his bed this this winter and i sometimes tries to get him out but its not easy because of the cold. Fonzie-Bul...7dbc24.jpg
Good pet owners PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR CATS and don't let them "sneak outside". I have an escape artist cat and he has NEVER NEVER NEVER (knock on head) escaped on my watch in 16 years. PAY ATTENTION.
As amazing and good the sotry is, I still want to know HOW did Fluffy end up outside in such a weather.
I seriously don’t know why I read these, I get so upset!!! Yay, Fluffy!!!
You guys all rock... Fluffy is a very lucky kitty glad nobody gave up on him!
I've never understood how a creature can have extreme hypothermia yet not end up with frostbite, yet you can get frostbite without even getting to the point of hypothermia. Anyone know?
heard this from a Dr friend of mine "they are not dead till they are warm"... when people, especially kids fall in icy/cold water and you pull them out and you dont feel a pulse or signs of life... cpr should be continued until the body is warm, thats when you know they are really dead.
Kitties should ALL be indoor-only pets. I hope Fluffy's family will never let her out of their house again. Not only is it dangerous to kitties to go outside, it is also terrible for songbirds, butterflies and many beneficial insects for domestic kitties to be running around outside. Our darling kitties are complete loves in our homes, but outside, they can be destructive to other beautiful and innocent critters. Keep your kitties in your house!
for those who think that its animal abuse to put you cat outside, i have a cat who was a stray kitten when we first got him, his never used a litter box and often stays nearby as his weary of strangers. It may be advised for those who live in areas of extrem cold temperatures to keep a cat avery in winter and attach it to the main house. there is even the possibility of the cat getting out without the owners knowing.
Nobody said that it was animal abuse. Of course it’s not. Things happen.
Load More Replies... Pfff..... in Nordic countries it's totally normal that pets go outside for pee. Even human babies sleep in carriages outside.
That's assuming she was put out and didn't sneak out/escape.
Load More Replies... ... and let you die along with the other neanderthals.
Load More Replies...
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