Animals can sometimes perform rescues beyond human capabilities. While many stories exist of humans saving animals, performing emergency first aid, or even CPR, some situations require the unique assistance that only other animals can provide. This is the extraordinary tale of a cat who saved the life of a baby wild bobcat.
In Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, a family discovered a weak and cold young bobcat in their barn. Concerned for its well-being, they contacted the Atlantic Wildlife Institute and were advised to take the bobcat to the nearest animal hospital. The family drove over an hour to reach Douglas Animal Hospital to ensure the bobcat, later named Fiona, received the necessary care to survive. The diagnosis was hypoglycemia and hypothermia, with the bobcat suffering from seizures.
To combat the hypothermia, the team at Douglas Animal Hospital placed Fiona on a heat disc and protected her with booties. However, addressing her hypoglycemia—a critical condition where blood sugar levels drop dangerously low—proved challenging. The only viable treatment was a blood transfusion, but finding a suitable donor was urgent as Fiona’s organs were beginning to fail due to cold, dehydration, starvation, and anemia.
The animal hospital reached out to various shelters and found a match in a cat named Smuckers, provided by the Fredericton SPCA. Smuckers underwent a thorough screening process to ensure he met all the criteria for a blood donor: a physical exam, full blood panel, cross-matching blood type, being under 8 years old, weighing over 4.5kg, and being neutered. Smuckers was the perfect match for Fiona.
The hospital proceeded with the transfusion, extracting about two tablespoons of blood from Smuckers. After the donation, he was given a snack and time to rest. The transfusion was successful, and Fiona’s condition was closely monitored to ensure there were no complications. Over the following months, Fiona thrived under the hospital’s care, and there is hope that she will soon be returned to the wild.
Smuckers’ heroic act garnered significant attention, including from Leana Luckier McGuire, whose late brother was Smuckers’ previous owner. She expressed her pride, stating, “Smuckers was my brother’s cat. My brother passed away in late December, and we weren’t able to take this sweet boy back to our home in Texas. I knew someone would fall in love with Smuckers. He’s an absolute sweetheart. And now a hero! Tears of joy on this one. Brother Mike would be so proud.”
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
This heartwarming story concludes with Smuckers finding his forever home. His heroism not only saved Fiona’s life but also led to him being adopted by a loving family, ensuring a happy ending for this extraordinary cat.