When one New Yorker stopped by a Lowe’s store, she was only planning to purchase some items for the garden. However, Julia Makris, 27, ended up leaving with a lifelong companion.
Found and rescued an abandoned kitten in the store
Makris was walking around the gardening section when she heard a faint crying sound. Upon searching, she discovered a tiny, week-old kitten next to some stacked metal crates. Without hesitation, Makris decided to rescue the distressed cat, later named Missy.
Before taking Missy home, Makris stopped by Petco to purchase necessary supplies like formula, bottles, wipes, and a stuffed toy. She knew it would be a challenging task, as the “main difficulty was just keeping her alive.” The vet estimated Missy hadn’t eaten in a while, and the priority was ensuring she made it through the night.
A happy forever home for the poor kitten
Makris worked tirelessly, feeding Missy every two hours and helping her go to the bathroom after each feeding. She used kitchen scales to monitor Missy’s weight and growth. As Missy got older, the feedings became less frequent.
Initially, Makris planned to care for Missy until she was strong enough for adoption. However, the two formed an unbreakable bond, and Makris decided to keep Missy permanently. Now, Missy is thriving in her New York home, living happily with her older feline sibling.
Makris shared Missy’s story on TikTok, and it quickly went viral, garnering over 4.7 million views and 754,000 likes. The positive response has even led Makris to offer to foster two more kittens found at a local store.
While raising a newborn kitten is exhausting work, Makris feels blessed to have saved Missy. She hopes her story will inspire others to rescue kittens in need and reach out to experienced rescues for guidance.
