UPDATE: Kind rescuer saves an injured cat on a -35 degree, frozen highway, then shares a victorious survival tale that's warmer than the kitten's namesake: 'Meet Mr. Broccoli Cheddar Soup'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jan 9, 2026 4:00 PM EST

Soup gives us a warm and cozy feeling when it's blizzarding outside, which is why this woman named an orange-like-cheddar-cheese cat after a bowl of hearty broccoli soup. After noticing a huddled mass on the side of the highway in -35 degree weather, a kind rescuer pulled over to the shoulder and rushed to the kitty's aid. Without hesitation, he started purring at the sight of her and hasn't stopped since. 

Warm like a bowl of homemade soup and cozy like a winter classic, this resilient cat earned the name Mr. Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Since his miraculous discovery on the side of the road, BC's journey has been far from easy, but to ease the pain of the loss of his limbs and the multiple vet visits, he combats his woes with a positive attitude, warm purrsonality, and a rambunctious gusto for life that gives us that fuzzy feeling in our souls. 

Come along with me to witness a feline's journey that started out hopelessly cold and dim, but ended up brightening the lives of every human who came across him. Because when you have Broccoli Cheddar Soup in your midst, it's impawsible to deny the warm, fuzzy feeling inside. 

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  • ANGLA
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  • It has been 1 year since Broccoli Cheddar was found on the highway!
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  • One whole year since Mr. Broccoli Cheddar Soup was found in -35°C on the side of the highway.
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  • He was burned from likely hitching a ride in an engine then lost a leg, his tail and ears to frostbite. It was a long road to complete healing. Now he is living his best life with a fantastic mama and a brother and sister.
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  • Let's take a look back at Mr. Broccoli Cheddar Soup's journey. 

    Like many strays, things started rocky and very confusing, but after a few visits and a lot of TLC from the humans and his new family of rescue felines, MBCS's officially a part of the kitty crew. Although he's missing a few semi-critical limbs, let's take a walk down memory lane with our adorably resilient new favorite orange cat. 

  • One year ago...

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  • Little one possibly has a broken tail. There are some injuries to their back legs, but hind end is working. They must have been trying to hitch a ride in an engine. Haven't been able to do a "gender reveal" yet to avoid stressing them out. I've been calling them Broccoli Cheddar, or BC for short for now.
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    They didn't know what was wrong with the kitty then, but saw he needed help. Sometimes the best first step is giving a cat a kiss and then rolling with the punches from there. 

  • One week later

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  • It's a boy! BC has some pretty bad frostbite on his ears, back feet and tail. I reached out to a local cat rescue and am waiting for them to confirm intake to cover medical costs, vaccines, etc. For now I am taking him on my own cost while I wait! Even once placed in the rescue, I will be fostering him (and whether he stays with me forever or not, we will see!)
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  • He will be getting radiographs tomorrow morning. Thankfully, I work in the veterinary medicine field and have been able to manage pain under the guidance of a veterinarian while waiting for an appointment. He has been using the litterbox, moving around and eating. He is so full of love, chirps and purrs.
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  • THEN

    10 cm
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  • Mr. BC Soup has NO BROKEN BONES!! He does have bad frostbite on his ears and rear paws. There is a chance he may lose a couple of toes and his ear tips. He did sustain some burns under the singed fur and on one leg. Other than that, he is one healthy little guy. He just finished enjoying a Churu and doesn't quite understand where the leftover food is on his face...
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  • But things took a turn for the worse

    97 M
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  • Here is sad boy after getting home from the vet today. He says "I know vet care is expensive, but did they have to take the whole leg?!"
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  • Unfortunately, we had to make the decision to amputate one of his back legs. The frostbite on his rear right leg was too severe which resulted in the tissues dying. A wound on his tail began from the frostbite over the weekend, he will have it rechecked next week. He may or may not loose his tail too.
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  • Despite having the Monday-est of Mondays, he's still purring (but the drugs might be helping that →)
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  • Then BC transformed into 100% loaf

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  • Little update! Today BC had his tail amputated and he is full of so much energy. We had some cone-free cuddles. He loves to show off his little belly and is starting to demand belly rubs.
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  • But it could never break his spirit!

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  • 1 month after he was first discovered on the road...

    ASTER Car 10 cm BUSTER
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  • Yesterday, Mr. BC got to join me at work. He was a distracting fellow. Non stop purring and winning the hearts of everyone in the office. He found out there are unlimited Temptations treats in a veterinary college.
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  • He had his leg sutures removed it has been healing up wonderfully. Next week he gets the tail sutures removed. His little dead ears are holding on, his vet is comfortable leaving them to fall off on their own. Now the biggest update of them all: BC is going to his forever home next week!!!
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  • I was on the fence about keeping this little sweet man. I already have 5 cats and 5 dogs permanently in my household and I thought 'whats one more cat?!' Except a close friend of mine came to visit over the weekend and absolutely fell in love with him.
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  • She had been thinking of adopting a new kitty (and funny enough mentioned a couple months ago she was thinking of an orange cat). I joked that she needed to meet him. So she slept over at my place and BC showered her with affection at her visit. She kept disappearing to the foster room to snuggle him, give him crunchies, and send me 100 videos while I was a room away. I knew it was meant to be.
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  • The upside? I can still see him all the time and share updates with you all (as she doesn't use reddit). He will have one cat brother who she also rescued off the streets in bad condition and 1 cat sister.
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  • After 2 months in his new home...

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  • Little update on BC! His foot is healing up nicely and he is getting more comfortable with playing. As you can see, he is very sneaky.
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  • Shortly afterwards, BC has all of his fur again!

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  • His fur has mostly all grown back now. He is looking like a distinguished young man.
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  • PRESENT DAY

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  • Now, Mr. Broccoli Cheddar Soup is fully healed and living his best life. Although it took him several months to grow fur back, he'll never have all of his limbs, but that's okay because he doesn't need all of those paws to play, he doesn't need a tail to cuddle, and he doesn't need ear flaps to hear all of the silly songs his hooman sings about him. May BC live a long and fulfilled life with his kitty brethren, and may he always be warmer than the frozen, frightful day that nearly claimed him. 

    Orange and soupy as can be, Broccoli Cheddar is destined for a warm and happy life. He must be!

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highway saved cat rescue Cats stray
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