Tiny Fighter Of A Kitten Changes Color Before Her Rescuer’s Eyes
Fievel was only 2 days old when Emilie Rackovan first held him in her hand. The kitten was so small he fit in her palm, but he was already fighting to make it through.
Born with a fever coat after his mother went through intense stress during pregnancy, Fievel looked silver and scruffy at first, and he was the only sibling to survive after a premature birth and a lack of care from his feral mom. Rackovan stepped in and fed him by hand every hour, while another cat helped give him the family life he needed.
Now the tiny survivor is growing up fast, and his changing coat has become part of the surprise. Read on.
Fievel was born with a fever coat because his mom was undergoing intense stress while pregnant
His foster mom fed him by hand every hour of every day.
“I was fostering a mom and babies just about Fievel's age for a different shelter and asked if I could try introducing Fievel to them,” Rackovan said. “I put Fievel with Persephone (the mom) and the babies, and she took to him immediately.”
Fievel loves spending time with his adoptive family
As soon as he got a taste of loving family life, Fievel rapidly began to grow and change. The kitten's actual colors became visible as Fievel's fever coat began to sprout out.
His miraculous change occurred when he was around a month old. Rackovan expected that he would be gray and white, but she was wrong.
This is similar to the ex-feral tomcat who became a “Mama Bear” for foster kittens while recovering.
“Around four weeks, the roots started to turn a dark gray on his back and his legs became jet black. I still wasn't sure if he was going to be dark gray or black," his foster mom said.
“I noticed the white tips on his fur starting to come through at about three weeks, but that is relatively typical of a fever coat,” Rackovan said.
“Around four weeks, the roots started to turn a dark gray on his back and his legs became jet black. I still wasn't sure if he was going to be dark gray or black.”
“He has continued to get darker and darker,” she added. “I had absolutely no idea that he was going to be a tuxedo.”
“All of my friends who foster are equally as shocked, and none of us have ever seen a kitten coat transformation like his!”
"None of us have ever seen a kitten coat transformation like his!"
Fievel has changed inside and out; the formerly shy orphan has now grown into a young cat with plenty of self-assurance.
“Fievel is just the goofiest kitten ever!” Rackovan said. “He does the ‘scary cat,’ where he arches his back and hops toward you. He likes to think he's intimidating, so I play along!”
Fievel likes and gets along with all of Rackovan's foster pets and house pets, but he forms a special connection with the people he encounters.
After being neutered, Fievel will be placed for adoption. He will find his forever home, where he will continue to surprise and delight whoever is fortunate enough to have him.
Before adoption, read how Fishtopher the cat went from mourning to playful joy.
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