A routine delivery stop in Queens became an unexpected kitten rescue after a tiny cat was found hiding under a parked car.
Near the end of her morning route, Amazon driver Naeema M. heard soft cries coming from beneath a vehicle. By the time the stop was over, her family was on the path to welcoming a new pet.
Here's what to know
The kitten eventually got out with help from Marlow, Naeema's 12-year-old daughter. As described in the ASPCA's Instagram post, Naeema asked the customer about him and learned he was a stray, then chose to bring him home. The kitty was later named Galaxy, after Marlow's favorite Minecraft YouTuber.
Only after they got him home did Naeema and Marlow see how badly he was hurt. His left eye was swollen and protruding, a sign that he needed veterinary care right away.
Because she had previously taken her other cats there for routine care, Naeema reached out to the ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinic near her Brooklyn home. Veterinarians determined Galaxy's eye could not be saved and removed it, likely because an infection had gone untreated. The clinic also offered to neuter him.
Galaxy is a healthy, active kitten who has adjusted well to having one eye.
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Eye infections, injuries, and other illnesses can cause permanent damage when they are not addressed early, especially in young kittens that are still developing and are particularly vulnerable.
What's being done?
In Galaxy's case, the ASPCA said support from The Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust, along with other donors, helped fund the Brooklyn Community Veterinary Clinic that treated him.
Low-cost and community clinics can help families care for the pets they already have while also making it more realistic to step in when a stray animal needs urgent attention.
Where can I learn more?
Galaxy's rescue is one of many cases where cats and kittens are found in dangerous places and need help fast. These stories follow animals pulled from under cars, found at feeding spots, and spotted along roadsides and other risky places.
• In Galleywood, England, an indoor cat rode 15 miles unseen beneath a family's car.
• At a familiar feeding spot, a stray mama cat returned with five kittens overnight.
• A frightened feral kitten bit his rescuer's finger before easing into a waiting carrier.
• One homeowner's bluff saved the kitten from kids who took it from its mother.
• In Vietnam, a flea-covered cat was rescued from trash before ending up pampered in Canada.
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