Kitten dropped at shelter in rain was ‘slipping away.’ Now comes a second chance

A tiny kitten that was “heartbreakingly close to dying” was left at a shelter in the cold and rain, a Pennsylvania shelter said.

The black kitten named Patrick was “dangerously thin” and his body was frigid to the point where his temperature wouldn’t even register on a thermometer, according to a May 16 Facebook post by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“Patrick was slipping away,” the Philadelphia-based shelter said.

But team members “didn’t hesitate,” the shelter said.

Staff “rushed him inside,” gave him fluids and attempted to warm him up, the shelter said.

Although “Patrick was barely clinging to life,” he is a “fighter,” the shelter said.

He’s now recovering and is remaining under close supervision, staff said.

He’s even beginning to purr and slowly getting stronger, shelter staff said.

“Patrick is not out of the woods quite yet, but he’s no longer facing it alone,” staff said.

This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Kitten dropped at shelter in rain was ‘slipping away.’ Now comes a second chance."