A kitten was extremely ill, so vets decided to take a huge gamble to save him
Earlier this year, the Australian charity Best Friends Felines took in Priscilla, a particularly timid grey and white cat found in an industrial area. She was placed in a loving foster home, where she could safely give birth to her kittens.
Sadly, the birth was very difficult. Only two kittens survived: Winston and his sister Jade. Born well underweight, the two fragile little creatures were immediately placed under round-the-clock observation.
Two very sick kittens
The team soon noticed physical abnormalities in both siblings. While Jade had a curved spine that didn't stop her from climbing everywhere, her brother Winston's case was far more worrying.
The little male was suffering from a severe form of pectus excavatum (or funnel chest), a congenital deformity where the sternum and rib cartilage grow inwards. This constricted chest cavity was compressing his lungs, causing severe breathing difficulties with the slightest effort.
A medical marvel
Faced with the urgency of the situation, the vets decided to risk it all by scheduling major corrective surgery for such a tiny kitten. To straighten his skeleton, Winston was fitted with a custom-moulded external splint, designed to force his sternum back into a normal position.
Against all odds, the kitten tolerated his device and continued to play, eat, and ask for cuddles as if nothing was wrong. It was during a check-up a week later that the carers received a huge surprise. X-rays revealed an incredible 30% correction.
The splint could be permanently removed, completely freeing up the little miracle's airways.
The story ends with a double happy ending. The brave Winston has already been adopted by a family where he will grow up alongside another feline companion. As for his inseparable mother Priscilla and sister Jade, they stole the hearts of another family who chose to adopt them together.
