A kitten treated at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter for a reported damaged windpipe that caused her appearance to resemble a balloon was healing Thursday and might be available for adoption after her
recovery.
Zoe the kitten arrived at the shelter about a week ago for having too much air trapped under the skin, otherwise known as subcutaneous emphysema, which made her body appear swollen or puffed up.
Dr. Phil Caldwell, medical director of the shelter, said on social media that Zoe’s condition was possibly brought upon by trauma to her airways, which caused air to go into spaces that shouldn’t be air, and he also could not identify what triggered the trauma.
To fix the issue, Caldwell poked Zoe’s neck, chest and back area with a needle and extracted the air. The air has not since returned.
The unusual-looking kitten garnered social media attention, with people giving her nicknames, including “Puff Kitty” and “Mrs. Puff.”
On Thursday, Caldwell announced on social media that Zoe has reached two pounds and was getting better each day.
The shelter announced on Thursday that a T-shirt with Zoe’s face will be sold through their website, with all proceeds to benefit the shelter’s love fund. The fund provides urgent care for animals in crisis.