Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/shelter-cat-saves-bobcat/

An orange and white cat named Smuckers wound up in the shelter after his owner died. But this heartbreaking twist came with a silver lining. When a baby bobcat fell ill, the four-year-old shelter cat stepped up to save her life.

The heartwarming saga began when a baby bobcat was brought to a wildlife hospital in New Brunswick, Canada. “The cat was clearly not well,” one of the hospital veterinarians, Dr. Nicole Jewett, told Canada’s Global News.

The baby bobcat was so weak and dehydrated vets couldn’t even read her temperature. Doctors tried giving her an IV drip, but further testing revealed the kitten actually needed an emergency blood transfusion.

That’s when wildlife technicians called up the Fredericton shelter where Smuckers was staying, seeking shelter cats who could serve as potential blood donors.

“Whether you’re a domestic cat or a bobcat, it’s still feline, they have similar blood types, so it’s a compatible match,” said Dr. Jewett. As it turned out, Smuckers and the baby bobcat (whom vets named Fiona) both had Type A blood.

“And, luck of the draw, Smuckers was the hero,” the shelter’s director of operations, Annette James, told the news outlet.

“It’s a phenomenal story because his coming to a shelter was not planned or scheduled,” said James, describing how Smuckers had only just recently arrived when he became Fiona’s blood donor.

“But the fact that he was able to pay forward and help out another fur baby — even though (she’s) a wildlife fur baby — that’s a tremendous legacy for Smuckers to move forward with.”

Now Fiona is reportedly doing “really well,” according to her caretakers, who report the baby bobcat is once again acting as a bobcat should. When she’s healthy and strong enough, hospital workers will reintroduce her into the wild.

“So she’s hissing, she’s growling, if you go near her she will try to attack you, because that’s what they do to humans, because it’s a fight or flight response with wild animals,” said Dr. Jewett.

“Clearly right now, she’s fighting. Which is great. This is fantastic,” she said. “We love it when wildlife try to attack us because that means they feel good.”

Smuckers’ future is also looking bright. After news leaked out about the shelter cat’s heroic act, offers for adoption began pouring in. According to the Fredericton SPCA, Smuckers has already been adopted into his new forever home.

“He’s doing absolutely fantastic. (His new owner) adores him, she loves him to the moon and back,” said James. “All the pieces just came together, and it’s lovely when that happens.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog