A small cat is rehydrating and gaining weight after somehow surviving a harrowing journey that carried her thousands of miles across the ocean to Minnesota.
Companion Animal Care and Control (CACC), headquartered in Oakdale, says the little cat was found inside a shipping container that was moved from China to the U.S. in a journey that took three weeks. In a Facebook post, the animal control organization said she was discovered hiding underneath a pallet as crates stacked above were being unloaded.
"For three long weeks, she likely survived by drinking condensation and maybe snagging a rodent or two," read the post. "By the time she was discovered... she was severely dehydrated and dangerously thin."
CACC took the cat to Northwoods Humane Society Thursday for treatment.
“She was really thin. Kind of being a little careful not to give her too much food at once," said Renee Rude, the animal shelter's executive director. “Animals that have been not eating for an extended period will sometimes gorge themselves and hurt their organs."
Rude said it's a miracle she's alive. She said they've created a "cat cave" for the furry girl they're calling "stowaway and container kitty." They put towels up to make her more comfortable as she rehabilitates. She said CACC had to do a live trap, which often makes cats more scared, because they couldn't catch her by hand.