'The vet said give up... but I didn't': Kind cat lover adopts the sick kitten no one believed in; they bravely prove everyone wrong 5 years later

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Apr 19, 2026 2:15 PM EDT

If everyone tells you that you're making the wrong decision… do you believe them, or your heart?

Adopting a pet is a gamble. It's not like buying a bred cat where you know their whole genetic history and potential health problems. When you adopt a cat, you're lucky if you even know how old it actually is. But sometimes, even when you have most of the information, you still don't know how long you're going to have them for. This is a risk we all take - because it's better to have loved and have lost, than to have never loved at all.

The vet told our cat lover below that the kitten she found was too sick, that she was a lost cause, but this pawrent didn't believe them. She saw that she was a fighter and decided to take a leap of faith with this brave little kitten and hope for the best. She woke up to feed her every two hours. She used four different kinds of eye drops to heal her troubled eyes. She didn't give up, and neither did the kitten.

There were many bumps in the road. They had to isolate the cute kitten from their other cat and suffered many sleepless nights. There were many scratches, arguments, and fear of what the next day would bring… but all of those tribulations worked to bring them closer. They formed a bond that only a cat owner and their cat can truly understand. Purrhaps they both feared going to sleep every night, but they had the courage to wake up the next morning and find out, every day, for five years after.

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    She was found when she was only about 7 days old and was so sick that even her stray mum abandoned her.
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    When I brought her to the vet, they suggested me giving up, because she was too young and too weak. Her belly was swollen with unknown fluid, possibly something serious inside.
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  • Sick kittens, more than any other cat, have a tough time getting adopted. It's hard to convince someone to willingly adopt a cat that is going to be a meowdical burden on you from the start. These kittens come with a very heavy question mark - will they make it? At such a young age, it's almost impawssible to tell. They have to want to survive, and you have to be dedicated to every step of their recovery.

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    But I decided to try anyway, because she never gave up on herself, always trying to drink milk even when she barely can stand up. I fed her every two hours, used four different types of eye drops, and brought her to the vet every single afternoon for treatment.
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    Put Cape
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    米 Per Cage
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    And she made it. She grew up healthy, round, and became best friends with my other cat Today is this beautiful girl's 5th birthday. Let's celebrate how brave she is
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    kissmorta This made me tear up what a little fighter. Happy 5th birthday to this beautiful warrior
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    FloridaSherbert90 6 years before I was born, my Mom and Dad had a neighbor who was known for mistreating animals. They made several reports but not much was done. One morning my Dad saw this guy throwing something over a tall metal fence. My Dad walked over
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    after the guy left and found a small black kitten. My Dad ended up taking the kitten to the vet down the road, and the vet told him that she was only a few days old and would pass. My Dad took her home, bottle fed her and kept her warm and named her Spooky.
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    Spooky ended up passing away in 2006 at the ripe age of 18, sleeping on my Dads chest. He swears that love kept her going. Happy birthday little fighter!
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    McCinnabuns This is so bittersweet to me. I found a kitten years ago and she developed swelling from an unknown liquid as well. I was told she likely wouldn't make it and I believed them.
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    Ok_Occasion3214 She's beautiful and so are you for having faith in her
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    SnooTomatoes9314 I love this!! "She grew up healthy and round"
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    MENGJ ARIBAJ PLACEMON
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    Onautopilotsendhelp I love how her eyes stayed the same shape from when she was a baby. She is baby.
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    Prudertd I'm really glad you didn't listen and gave her a chance. Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them. Seeing her make it to 5 years old is honestly beautiful.
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    Vantahexx Awww this made me emotional, I'm glad you didn't give up on all and she fought really hard, I'm proud of both of you wish you both more happy years together |
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    Severe-Orchid231 My little rescue that the SPCA wouldn't take because he was "too sick and would only d anyways" is now 11 years old and the sweetest cuddliest boy ever.
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    bbeatzz_2017 Awwwww. She's lucky She's got you to watch over her. In return, she'll watch over you.
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    redhairetc What a lovely story of resilience and determination. Neither of you gave up, and you're bearing the fruits of that now and for the rest of your time together.
    via redhairetc

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