Nearly Blind Kitten Saved After Woman's Desperate Call

When a woman in Emporia, Virginia stumbled upon a tiny kitten in the woods, she knew time was running out. One of his eyes was swollen and oozing, the other infected too, and the five-month-old tabby could barely see.

Without transportation or money for a vet, she made the call that changed everything. PETA fieldworkers rushed to the scene and got the kitten to their Norfolk shelter within hours.

The team named him Bartimaeus, or "Barti" for short, after the blind man whose sight was restored in the Bible. A veterinary technician immediately treated his severe respiratory infection while a veterinarian removed his destroyed right eye and began intensive treatment to save the left one.

The tiny tabby wasn't out of the woods yet. A veterinary assistant took Barti home to foster, giving him round-the-clock care while he healed.

Sunny's Take

What makes this rescue special isn't just the medical care. It's the woman who refused to walk past a suffering animal, even when she didn't have the resources to help directly.

Her simple phone call set off a chain of compassion. The fieldworkers who dropped everything to respond, the vet team who worked to save his remaining eye, and the foster parent who opened their home all played a part in giving Barti his second chance.

Today, Barti is everything a kitten should be. He's neutered, vaccinated, and loves to play. His left eye healed well, though future adopters should know he may need specialized eye care down the road.

East Coast residents interested in giving Barti his forever home can reach out to Adopt@peta.org. PETA's Daphna Nachminovitch reminds everyone that keeping cats indoors protects them from diseases, predators, and other dangers that nearly cost Barti everything.

One woman saw a kitten in trouble and refused to look away, and now Barti gets to live the life every animal deserves.