Abandoned kitten rescued from cold but loses leg from frostbite

Some folks in Humboldt are taking care of a special little Doodlebug.

Alexis Cummins, an animal care worker with the Humboldt and District SPCA, said the organization received a call Jan. 2 about an abandoned grey kitten that had been found in the freezing cold at the CN Railway’s warmup shack.

The kitten was frozen to ice and had to be chipped free by a railway worker, Cummins said, adding she cried when she was told about the story.

Cummins said they named the kitten “Doodlebug,” and although the cat was saved, her back left leg was severely frostbitten.

At first, Cummins said, staff at the shelter thought Doodlebug’s frostbite would get better, but the kitten’s leg eventually turned purple and her toes black.

“We took her into the vet and unfortunately she had to lose her little leg,” Cummins said. “(It) is pretty sad. I don’t know how people could just dump cats, especially at five weeks old.”

Doodlebug is on a long road to recovery, but she’s managing it well after the unfortunate circumstances, according to Cummins. She noted the kitten is now playing and walking around.

This is not the first kitten found in the warmup shack; Cummins said an orange kitten was saved a day earlier by the same railway worker but was rehomed before making it to the SPCA.

Cases of abandoned kittens are not uncommon in the winter, the care worker notes, adding recently the shelter has had multiple kittens found on the highway or roaming around.

She said a possible reason could be the increase in pet care costs.

“Lots of people are saying they can’t afford to have their animals,” Cummins said, adding people should avoid getting pets if they can’t make a long-term commitment.

Currently, the Humboldt SPCA is at maximum capacity with more than 30 cats and additional animals in foster care. The intake of animals differs every day.

“One day we have three cats come in, the next day we have none,” Cummins said.

There has already been interest from others to adopt the kitten.

“I know lots of people feel sorry for (Doodlebug), but how could you not?” Cummins said, adding it will be a while before Doodlebug can be adopted.

Cummins said the shelter is always use volunteers to help out with the animals.