Any pet owner can tell you they always have that one favorite toy that they hang on to no matter what. A simple old plaything can make a big difference in an animal’s life, especially when they’re feeling scared or alone.
That was the case for one rescue kitten, who got through his first visit to the vet with the help of his favorite stuffed animal.
Samantha Smart, from Florida, could hear the sad cries of a small kitten in her neighborhood. With the help of her neighbors, she was able to track down the cat. Realizing he was a lonely stray, she decided to take him in, and named him Ponyo.
“We have one cat already so we weren’t really looking to add another, but it felt like Ponyo was meant for us!” Samantha told The Dodo.
To help their new kitten feel at home, the family decided to buy Ponyo his very own special toy.
They decided on a green dragon stuffed animal, who they just call “Dragon.” Soon, Ponyo and Dragon became inseparable best friends.
They were so attached that Dragon even accompanied the kitten when he needed him most: his first visit to the vet.
Samantha took Ponyo to a group called Operation Catnip to be neutered. This kind of experience can be scary for any cat, but especially for one still getting used to his new surroundings.
So Ponyo clung to his stuffed best friend for comfort. The vets found him adorably hiding behind the dragon:
The staff at Operation Catnip didn’t mind him bringing his stuffed animal along… in fact, they thought it was precious.
They could tell how nervous the cat was and how much comfort the dragon brought him, so they let him keep it by his side throughout the whole procedure.
“We thought it would be really great to send the dragon on the same journey through the clinic as Ponyo, so we had fun giving the dragon the identical services,” Operation Catnip’s Melissa Jenkins Jenkins said.
The staff gave Dragon anesthesia and checked his heart rate along with Ponyo’s.
When the kitten woke up after his surgery, he had his favorite toy beside him to comfort him.
How adorable! It’s clear this kitten got through his surgery with no worries thanks to the help of his favorite toy.
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