It all started with a sound. A faint, desperate meow carried across a quiet community.
A neighbor mentioned hearing it first, but when the family followed the cries, they discovered something heartbreaking.
A tiny kitten, barely alive, covered in flies and insect eggs, was lying helpless on the roadside.
He hadn’t even opened his eyes yet.
At just five to seven days old, he was already fighting for his life.
The family knew they had no time to lose.
They grabbed a box and carefully placed the weak kitten inside while a young boy tried to chase the flies away with a leaf.
Without delay, they rushed him to the nearest animal hospital.
The little one cried the whole way, his voice filled with fear and exhaustion.
The doctor confirmed their worst fears.
The kitten was dangerously young, with his body smelling foul and riddled with insect eggs and fleas.
At first, the vet tried wiping the eggs away with a solution.
But there were too many, and the longer the kitten stayed wet, the greater the risk he could catch a chill.
After a heated discussion, the decision was made. The kitten would need a full bath.
What followed was more than two hours of careful cleaning, washing away every egg and flea clinging to his fragile body.
When it was finally over, the team dried him with tissues and a gentle blow-dry, making sure his tiny frame stayed warm.
A small room at the hospital became his temporary home.
The doctor explained how fragile he really was.
At that age, he couldn’t relieve himself on his own, so tissues or cotton swabs had to be used to stimulate him.
And since no one could feed him through the night at the hospital, the family was given a bottle and took him home.
Exhausted, the kitten curled up in the box, no bigger than a human hand, and fell into a deep sleep.
His new caretakers prepared goat milk powder and gently fed him bit by bit.
He was weak, constantly meowing, and had to be wrapped in a towel during feeding.
But with every sip, hope grew. Soon, his eyes began to open, revealing a tiny spark of life that refused to fade.
In the days that followed, the kitten began to recover.
His appetite grew, his meows grew louder, and his once watery eyes started to clear.
He was named Xiao Ju, or “Little Orange.”
With each feeding, his belly filled round and soft, and he looked up at his rescuers with wide, trusting eyes.
At first, he needed help even to urinate, but soon, he was walking around his box and trying to climb out.
By the fourth day, Xiao Ju’s strength was returning.
He explored his surroundings with curiosity, his little tail sticking straight up like a lightning rod.
Trips to the vet confirmed his progress, though he was diagnosed with herpes and coronavirus, conditions that needed constant care.
His foster family wiped him down daily, gave him time in the sun, and made sure his environment stayed spotless.
Weeks turned into months. Slowly, Xiao Ju began teething, drinking more milk, and even learning how to use a litter box.
He grew stronger, exploring the living room and making friends with the resident cats.
At first, he was kept apart, but eventually, he was welcomed into the family.
They ate together, played together, and curled up together as though he had always been part of their world.
The little one who once had a slim chance of survival became mischievous and full of life.
He learned how to paw at doors, escape from boxes, and even trick his humans into feeding him extra.
Trips to the vet showed he was finally healthy. His coat grew soft and shiny, and his once frail body now bounded with energy.
Xiao Ju had gone from being a helpless newborn on the roadside, covered in flies, to a beloved family member who brought joy to everyone around him.
His story is a reminder that even the tiniest life, when given a chance, can fight back and thrive.
From the moment his cries were heard to the day he grew strong enough to play like any other cat, one thing remained constant.
He was loved. And that made all the difference.