A tiny kitten, weighing less than a pound, made quite a trek through the choppy waters of Tampa Bay. She was most likely ‘disposed of’ by being thrown off the bridge and into the water to drown. Sadly, in coastal communities this is a common occurrence. However, this one tiny kitten defied so many odds and did not drown, she did not sink; she swam.
Meet Tampa Bay’s own Unsinkable Molly Brown, as she has now been named.
It was a construction crew that had discovered the miniature kitten under one of the many Bay bridges. She was soaking wet and freezing, terrified and alone and hungry, desperate for fresh water. 
Her tiny body and striped fur were also oddly covered in sand. Her foster mom, Kristin Gilpin, thinks that the sand came from the her ocean battle.
The sand most likely came from the turbid water. It was kicked up by tide, storm and construction to be deposited during a long period in Tampa Bay.
But the crew and her friends went above and beyond for the poor soul while waiting for Kristin to arrive. They retrieved the kitten safely from the water’s edge. She was washed of the salt water and finally dried out from her swim.
And I’m not sure, but there may be a little content smile on that “Purrito” face, right?
She gobbled up KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) because at her small size and young age, she’s not even eating solid foods yet! It was heartbreaking to think that she may have been with a litter of kittens that maybe didn’t survive. She certainly should have still been with her mother. 
Please welcome the Unsinkable Molly Brown to the rest of her life. I am working to nourish and hydrate her. Otherwise she is friendly and seems fairly healthy after her ordeal. I believe she even managed to drown all of her fleas on her journey.
So now, Molly Brown is with Kristin safely near Tampa Bay, far away from any unwanted future swim “lessons”.
She will remain at the home until she is ready for adoption. Here, she even has other foster kittens to hang out with too.
Please welcome the Unsinkable Molly Brown to the rest of her life. I am working to nourish and hydrate her. Otherwise she is friendly and seems fairly healthy after her ordeal. I believe she even managed to drown all of her fleas on her journey.
And there’s nothing that’s going to keep this brave girl down! Thank you so much to everyone involved in rescuing and caring for Molly Brown. 
Photos courtesy of Kristin Gilpin
