A nearly frozen kitten, now named Elsa, was saved by a warm-hearted family and a shelter in Denver last Thursday.
Elsa was suffering from hypothermia when a family found her in their yard, according to ABC 15 . The family couldn’t tell whether the nearly frozen kitten was still alive, so they put the baby cat on a heating pad and rushed her to Dumb Friends League, a Denver shelter.
Dumb Friends League spokesperson Megan Rees said Elsa was so cold that her temperature could not be registered by a thermometer, and she was unresponsive. Her body temperature had to be below 90 degrees.
Knowing that the frozen kitten would die if left untreated, the vets placed the 3-or-4-month-old kitten on more heating pads, warming bottles, and even used a hair dryer to warm her body temperature to normal. Elsa was also given some warm IV fluids to warm her orange furry body.
After about an hour of extra care and intensive treatment, the little fluffy kitten was no longer next to being frozen to death. Elsa became responsive and able to eat.
It was at this time that vets decided to name the baby kitten “Elsa,” after the character in Disney’s Frozen .
“We figured that would be a nice theme being from the ‘Frozen’ movie, but also since she obviously has a fighting spirit,” Dumb Friends League Health Care Supervisor Morgan Schneider said.
Very young animals, like Elsa, do not have much tolerance to cold weather. In fact, all dogs and cats should be placed indoors during very hot and cold weather. According to the American Veterinary Association, it is a myth that animals with fur will adapt quickly to the cold elements and be protected.
Animals at any age should never be left in below-freezing temperatures. Even when kept in a car , animals can freeze to death when an unheated car becomes like a refrigerator in icy temperatures.
It is unclear why Elsa the kitten ended up in the freezing cold and struggling to live. Thankfully, caring people were able to save her life and give her a chance at recovery.
According to ABC 7 , once Elsa puts on some weight and is completely recovered, she will be put up for adoption and hopefully have a happily-ever-after ending like her namesake in Disney’s Frozen .
[Images via Dumb Friends League]