A video showing the recovery journey of a resilient young kitten has gone viral on Instagram.
The clip was shared by NikeChoo (@nike7138), who is a veterinarian, according to her Instagram profile. The video has had more than 2.1 million views since it was first posted on March 3.
A message overlaid on the clip reads: "Elsa was found in a drain with all 4 limbs paralyzed and positioned in an abnormal position," as the footage shows a kitten laying on what appears to be a pee pad.
In a later comment, the poster noted that an initial X-ray showed that the kitten had multiple fractures on all four of her limbs.
The poster said: "It's not exactly clear how she ended up like that. We suspect either a person with malicious intent to hurt her and threw her in the drain or a calcium deficiency that causes her bones to be brittle and break easily when she fell into the drain..."
The video goes on to chart Elsa's journey of recovery, from her learning to roll over and crawl to walking, running and falling in love with "the warmth of the sun's embrace."
A caption shared with the post reads: "She worked very hard to be where she is today. To be independent, strong and inspiring many others out there to give a second chance in life for cases like her. She was adopted by a very loving owner after her first vaccination."
Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Among the millions of animals entering shelters and rescues across the country, adult cats and neonatal kittens (newborns aged up to around 4 weeks old) form a large portion of those in need of a home, according to the nonprofit The Humane Society of the United States.
'A Resilient Young Kitten'
A caption shared with the latest viral post reads: "Elsa was a resilient young kitten. At the beginning she used to meow in frustration because she wasn't able to get to where she wanted. She would pause, make cute little biscuits in hopes that I would carry her towards me. I'm the Asian tiger mom. I did not spoon feed her."
The video shows Elsa on day five of her recovery, when "she couldn't really move but was a great biscuit maker," a note reads across the clip, which shows the kitten appearing to knead the blanket with her paws. The act of "making biscuits" is a feline behavior associated with feelings of contentment and security.
The kitten is later seen crawling around using her back legs to push her forward, while a hand later supports her belly to keep it off the ground.
Elsa is later rolls herself over on a blanket before she crawls using all four limbs by day 13, according to messages overlaid on the video.
On day 19, Elsa is shown playing with a ball toy inside as the poster "started incorporating toys into her exercises." She later becomes "more confident" walking around on both rough and smooth surfaces.
The poster began started exposing her to sunlight by day 21. "She loved the warmth of the sun's embrace," a note across the screen reads, as Elsa is seen playing with a ball toy while laying on her belly under a sunlit spot. Day 24 sees her coming out from behind some potted plants.
"And soon enough, she started running," a later note reads on the clip, as the footage shows Elsa speeding across a floor.
"She was finally a kitten again," another message reads, adding that "Elsa never let her disabilities stop her," as the kitten is seen nibbling at the tag of a cat bed.
"She never saw herself as any less than others, she never gave up living a life she wanted," a final message across the screen notes, as Elsa is seen laying in the arms of a woman on a floor before the clip ends.
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via Instagram. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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