A cat was thought to be a seven-week-old kitten when found on the side of the road, but she turned out to be much older.
Pixie, the cat, was found along the road and brought to a local animal shelter. “Initially, they thought she was a kitten because of her size,” Heather, an ER nurse who often fosters kittens in critical condition, shared with Love Meow.
Weighing less than two pounds, Pixie was the size of a seven-week-old kitten but already had adult teeth. Estimated to be close to one year old, she was a mysterious little cat.
Realizing Pixie needed specialized care, the shelter contacted Heather for help. “They called me and asked if I’d try to ‘work my magic and put some weight on her.'”
Pixie was very petite and remarkably friendly. What she lacked in size, she made up for in personality. “Anyone who meets Pixie falls in love with her. She loves to be held on her back like a baby and trusts all humans. It was impossible not to love and fight for her.”
Heather began working to improve Pixie’s appetite while treating her severe stomach troubles.
She searched extensively for the right food and provided Pixie with supplemental care. Over time, it became clear that Pixie would not grow to a normal size.
Though she was as small as a kitten, she behaved like a cat and had a strong purr motor that always gave away her hiding spots. “She is as coordinated as an adult cat, can climb, jump, and has moody moments. Her eyes are so expressive.”
Pixie enjoyed the company of Noey, the blind cat, who was about the same age but five times her size. “She didn’t have any trouble putting him in his place.”
She also took a seven-week-old kitten, Buttercup, under her wing, wrestling and zooming around as if they were siblings. “She followed and pestered Pixie. I think Pixie enjoyed the companionship.”
Pixie has a knack for finding the coziest napping places. When she discovered a bag of clothes, she plunged in and buried herself in the soft pile.
Hoping to settle Pixie’s chronic tummy issues, Heather spared no effort to help her. “We tried so many different things. It was two steps forward and one step back for a few months. Eventually, the shelter’s vet decided to try a fecal transplant (oral capsules).”
With diligent and gentle care, Pixie reached 3.5 pounds as a fully grown cat. While she had shown signs of improvement, she was still not “fixed.”
Heather began to worry whether Pixie would ever be “adoptable” as it would require someone with exceptional commitment and dedication to ensure she lived her best life.
Then, one day, she received a message from a lady named Trina who had a cat with the same condition as Pixie. Over the next three weeks, they communicated daily.
“She convinced me that she would do absolutely everything in her power to help her. Pixie’s new mom thoughtfully made plans for her home and medical accommodations. It couldn’t have been a better match.”
Heather sat with Pixie one night to share the good news. “She slow-blinked, stretched her tiny paw onto my shoulder, and laid her head over my heart as if she understood and wanted to say thank you.”
After months in foster care, Pixie embarked on a long road trip to begin a new chapter. She rested on Trina’s shoulder and fell asleep on her lap throughout the ride home.
Pixie quickly found her sunbathing spot by the window, and her purrs permeated the room.
With treatment and an adjusted diet, Pixie’s energy soared, and her personality shone through. “Pixie climbed into a shopping bag hanging on a door and found a cozy new spot to chill,” Trina shared.
Pixie was soon introduced to the rest of the feline crew. Despite being the tiniest, she held her own.
Today, Pixie is officially off her medication and thriving with her forever family. She zips around the house with her feline friends, then recharges on the couch, in a comfy bed, or cuddled up with her people.
“I think she’s happy here and has settled in nicely with the rest of the herd.”
