Hidden among rubble at a construction site in the Bronx, a tiny kitten later named Yankee was fighting a losing battle against the cold. With no shelter and winter temperatures closing in, her small body had nearly frozen — and she was running out of time.
The day before she was rescued, construction workers heard faint cries but couldn’t locate their source. When they finally found the kitten the next day, they knew immediately she needed help. They reached out to Puppy Kitty NYCity, a local rescue group, before it was too late.
“Construction workers heard her cries the day before and were looking for her,” Meagan Licari, president of Puppy Kitty NYCity, told The Dodo. “When they found her, she was freezing. When I got there, her temperature was so low it didn’t even register on a thermometer. She couldn’t even lift her head.”
Licari rushed Yankee straight to an emergency veterinary hospital. The kitten was so weak and cold that she barely reacted as help arrived. Once at the hospital, veterinarians acted quickly, focusing on warming her body and getting food into her system.
Slowly, the nearly lifeless kitten began to respond.
“She was freezing and starving,” Licari said. “But once she warmed up and started eating, she began to come back to life.”
It took three days of intensive supportive care before Yankee stabilized — but the transformation was remarkable.
“It took her three days in the hospital to get back to normal,” Licari said. “She needed a lot of supportive care. Now she’s the happiest girl.”
As soon as she recovered, Yankee’s true personality emerged. The once-frozen kitten turned into a playful, curious ball of energy who clearly had a lot of love to give. It didn’t take long for the perfect family to notice.
Soon after healing, Yankee was adopted into a forever home where she now spends her days warm, safe and adored.
What began as a desperate fight for survival on a cold construction site ended with a second chance at life — all because a few workers stopped to listen and chose to care.
To help other kittens like Yankee, you can donate to Puppy Kitty NYCity.
