Two Kittens Found in a Box in the Snow: A Winter Rescue Story

A white box half buried in snow at the edge of a woodland road was easy to miss. The man who stopped to look inside found two orange-and-white kittens, cold and sick, next to food that had frozen solid. His son later told the rescue story in an Imgur photo series that was shared around the world.

A box hidden in the snow

The box was white and partly tucked under snowy branches, so it blended almost perfectly into the roadside. As the family put it, it was a miracle he spotted it at all. When he looked inside, he first saw one tiny kitten, obviously cold and unwell, sitting beside the frozen food. Then he looked closer and found a second kitten hiding behind its brother at the back of the box.

No homes or shelter in sight

The photographs of the spot explain why the kittens had little chance on their own. A quiet road runs through snow-covered woods, with no houses, barns or other shelter anywhere in view. The kittens had been left alone with no source of warmth, and the food left with them was frozen. He took them home.

The first night indoors

The kittens needed a vet, but it was night, so the family did what they could at home. They swaddled the pair in blankets to bring their body temperature up and kept them close. The two kittens clearly depended on each other: if they were separated at all, they cried out.

The female from the back of the box was in better shape. She was still sick, but she responded quickly to the warmth and attention, began purring loudly and nuzzled anyone who came near. Her brother, the kitten at the front of the box, was much weaker, and the family believed that without help he would have died. He needed a vet as soon as possible.

On the road to recovery

Both kittens were then taken to the vet and treated, and the family reported that they were on the road to a full recovery. What began with a glance at a white shape in the snow ended with two kittens warm, fed and safe indoors.

What to do if you find kittens in the cold

Kittens lose heat very quickly, and the National Kitten Coalition’s hypothermia guide puts warming first. A healthy kitten should feel very warm to the touch, around 100–102°F (38–39°C); one that feels cold needs help straight away.

• Warm gently and steadily. Use a heating pad on low, a warm (not hot) water bottle or a heated rice bag, always wrapped in a towel so it never touches the kitten directly.
• Leave room to move. Heat only part of the box or carrier so the kitten can crawl away if it gets too warm, and turn it now and then so the whole body warms evenly.
• Feed only once the kitten is warm. A cold kitten cannot digest food or medication, and feeding it can be fatal.
• See a vet quickly, even if the kitten seems to perk up. An examination shows whether the cold has caused lasting harm.

Never leave a weak kitten alone with a heat source. If you cannot take the animal in yourself, call a local shelter or animal rescue group: many run emergency lines in winter.

Explore more: Riley’s documented canyon rescue; puppies in a happier outdoor setting.

Related reading

• Eight Below: A Film Scene About Returning for the Dogs
• Learn From The Cat: Don't Jump In The Snow
• Animals in Snow: Winter Photographs, Food, Rest and Movement

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