When Karen Hendrickson first heard about the tiny kitten hiding in the rocks at cold Bradford Beach in Milwaukee, she couldn’t shake the thought of her.
The stormy weather, the freezing temperatures, and the rough waves crashing against the shoreline made her heart ache, as she shared in an interview:
“It was freezing out there. The waves were really starting to crash in… and if she would have gotten wet, I don’t think she would have made it.”
The five-month-old tortie kitten had taken refuge under the rocks and rescuing her was no easy task.
Karen, a volunteer with the Urban Cat Coalition, and other rescuers had tried everything – weeks of patiently leaving food and water, hoping she’d come out.
But each time, the kitten stayed hidden, her little face just peeking out from the rocks, too scared to trust anyone. They didn’t give up, though. They promised to come back.
Then came January and the weather turned worse. The temperature dropped even further, and the snow began to cover the ground.
Lake Michigan roared and Karen knew this was the most dangerous time yet. They had to get the kitten now or risk losing her for good.
Determined, she returned to the beach with a new plan, sharing:
“I was thinking, ‘Well, it’s a kitten and they like to play.’
With no toys in hand, Karen improvised with a shoestring and food, hoping the little tortie would be curious enough to investigate.
She knew this was her best chance to win the kitten’s trust, sharing:
“I didn’t have any toys on me, but I took the shoestring out of my boots and started playing with her under the rocks. I also had a bit of deli ham with me and I started feeding her a little bit of it.”
The kitten was hesitant, but slowly, she began to trust Karen. Before long, the cautious furball came out and Karen scooped her up. She was overjoyed to cradle the little one in her arms, as she shared:
“I was so happy to get her because we’d been trying for so long. It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I got her.’ I was just shaking. I was so excited.”
The priority was to take the kitten to the vet for a thorough checkup. Despite her time spent outdoors, she was in surprisingly good health, though she needed some treatment for fleas and worms.
When the time came to name the little one, they couldn’t make up their mind. But then they realized – she should be called Ruby.
The name fitted perfectly as she truly was a precious gem hidden in the rocks, as Karen shared:
“A lot of people were suggesting [names related to] the lakefront or rocks or stones, and we just didn’t really like any of the names. Then we’re like, ‘Ruby!’ It’s just a pretty rock and she was found in the rocks. She’s like our little gem in the rocks.’”
In her new life, Ruby blossomed. She became a playful, chatty, and confident kitty, who loved to be the center of attention.
It didn’t take long for her to find her forever home. She now has a dad who adores her and a furry friend to keep her company, though it seems that Ruby is already taking on the role of being the boss, as the Urban Cat Coalition shared in a Facebook post:
“She has a patient new papa and a new feline brother to boss around. We couldn’t be more excited for this happy ending! Have a wonderful life little one. Happy tails!”
Everyone is overjoyed to see Ruby’s transformation and for Karen, the greatest joy is knowing Ruby is safe, warm, and loved, as she shared:
“That was just such a high for me. I was so happy.”
What a perfect ending to a story that began with so much uncertainty!