While driving on the highway, Elizabeth thought she saw something moving along the shoulder. When she did a double-take, she was shocked to see a small, skinny kitten. She pulled over, picked the kitten up, and brought her to PAWS Atlanta. Upon initial evaluation, our team was shocked at how skinny she was. At nine months old, she should've been nearly full grown but weighed barely five pounds. Despite being weak and underweight, she was in surprisingly good shape, and our vet team felt she could make a good recovery. We affectionately named her Roadside and set up a comfortable spot in the vet clinic for her to begin treatment.

Initially, Roadside showed excellent signs of improvement. She ate well and began putting on a little weight. However, after a week, she wasn't eating as much, and we worried that her recovery might not be as swift as we initially thought. After a few tests, we discovered that she had a bacterial infection that was also causing a type of anemia. While these conditions can be treatable, all of this on top of her already precarious health made our team very worried. 

We started Roadside's new treatment plan at an emergency vet with a blood transfusion and antibiotics. After only a few days, she showed amazing improvement. She was much more interactive with our staff and began eating well again. We were encouraged and relieved to see her make such big strides. Her infection subsided and she continued to put on weight. Once we knew she was stable, we looked for a foster home for her where she could continue to heal in the comfort of a home. After six weeks of treatment in our clinic, Roadside went to a foster home!

In foster, Roadside continued to put on weight. Her foster parents watched her grow into the playful, silly kitten she was meant to be! She enjoyed snuggling up in cozy blankets and exploring their home. When her fosters brought her in for a check up after a few months, she weighed in at a healthy 10 pounds! In fact, her body condition score on her medical chart reads "stout" - a welcome change for this once-tiny girl. Roadside was cleared for adoption!

The more her fosters thought about her going to another home, though, the more they knew that they couldn't let that happen. They decided to adopt her, naming her Lyanna and introducing her to their other resident cat. In a recent email they told us, "She is a delight and a wonderful addition to our little family." We're elated that this sweet girl finally has the life she deserves.