Florida rescuers shared a favorite “then and now” about Ruby, a tortoiseshell semi-feral cat rescued from a truck stop. They’re so proud of saving Ruby to “show her a kinder world.” Although she remained feral, she “deserved to live a safe kitty life as much as any cat friendly to humans,” they said.
In spring 2021, Ruby was pregnant and had nothing to eat but gravel. Worse, she was somehow badly injured. Things looked grim indeed for this cat, but the “miracle kitty” is living her best life two years later.
“Poor Ruby was found at a truck stop, eating gravel to stay alive. She was pregnant, barely hanging on to life. Her pelvis was shattered; we will never know the cause of it, whether a vehicle hit her or a human inflicted harm intentionally,” A Kitten Place shared.
Images via Facebook/A Kitten Place
When it seemed Ruby’s nine lives were spent, a kind person trapped her at the truck stop. From there, they contacted the rescuers just in time. Thanks to hundreds of kind people donating, they got her the extensive emergency veterinary care she needed.
Unfortunately, Ruby lost her two developing kittens, but the vets were able to repair her pelvis and remove part of her colon due to a condition called megacolon.
Ruby the ‘Miracle Kitty’
Vets weren’t sure if Ruby had developed the enlarged colon due to life circumstances (eating gravel, pregnancy, etc.) or if she was born with it. But it caused severe impaction, requiring days of hospitalization. Although vets didn’t expect her to survive, she made it. She was a fighter.
“Ruby healed incredibly well after her megacolon surgery, and she is in amazing health – and quite a miracle kitty!! She has been through SO much in her short life, and her will to survive is tremendous,” they said.
Soon, she was digesting food properly, a big relief in many ways!
“Our hearts are so happy to report that Ruby is in good health and free from any more procedures or veterinary care. To think back on our initial journey with this girl and to know what she has gone through and what she has done to ultimately survive has to bring anybody to tears. She was not expected to make it and survive and look where she’s at now. We are just so proud of where she has come,” they shared.
Ruby Finds a Gem of a Sanctuary
As with any semi-feral cat, the hope is they will learn to trust people and live a pampered life. But Ruby had gone through so much and preferred to keep a distance, although they patiently worked to gain her trust.
“Her background was filled with many reasons not to trust humans,” they said.
So, Ruby went to live at a special needs sanctuary where she thrived, as you can see. The rescue checked up on her regularly and was thrilled to share her progress.
“Ruby didn’t truly feel safe around humans (who could blame her?!), it was determined that she wouldn’t be adoptable and she has resided at a special needs sanctuary ever since. She looks AMAZING,” they said.
Ruby the tortoiseshell cat living at Sanctuary to the Maxx in Florida
Although she will probably always be a feral cat, they are so proud of helping her unconditionally to have her best life in a caring special needs sanctuary. Showing cats like Ruby kindness is a great reward in itself.
“A beating heart is a beating heart. [Cats] deserve a chance, and they deserve love and compassion regardless of what they offer us in return.”
You can follow A Kitten Place on Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also see the previous story we shared about S’mores, the cutest kitten who made a similarly dramatic recovery thanks to these kind people!
