Vet Says This Puffy Kitten Is Among Strangest Cases Ever
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A California animal shelter says a young kitten that arrived looking unusually swollen is recovering and may eventually be available for adoption.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the kitten—now named Zoe—was brought to the shelter about a week ago. When she arrived, her body appeared abnormally inflated because air had become trapped beneath her skin. The condition, known as subcutaneous emphysema, caused the tiny cat to look more like a balloon than a typical kitten.
Shelter medical director Dr. Phil Caldwell explained on social media that the problem likely resulted from some type of injury, possibly a puncture in the airway or another form of trauma that allowed air to leak into surrounding tissue. The exact cause, however, is still unknown.
To treat Zoe, Caldwell carefully inserted a needle and syringe into areas including her neck, chest, and back to release the trapped air. Since the procedure, the air has not returned, suggesting the original injury may have already healed on its own.
Caldwell described the situation as one of the most unusual veterinary cases he has encountered in a long time, according to Good Morning America.
Since arriving at the shelter, Zoe has been steadily improving. She has gained weight and now weighs about 2 pounds, with staff reporting that she continues to get stronger each day.
The kitten’s unusual appearance quickly caught attention online, and people began giving her playful nicknames such as “Puff Kitty” and “Mrs. Puff.” The shelter has also begun selling T-shirts featuring Zoe’s image, with the money going toward its “love fund,” which helps cover emergency medical treatment for animals in need.
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