‘Essentially Frozen’ Cat Revived by Vets After Buried Under Snow in Montana

A man walks along an ice-covered break-wall along Lake Michigan while temperatures were hovering around -20 degrees and wind chills nearing -50 degrees in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 31, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

An “essentially frozen and unresponsive” cat was located in Montana and was saved by veterinarians amid cold temperatures.

The cat, named Fluffy, was found under a pile of snow in Kalispell. The animal’s fur was matted with snow and ice.

On Jan. 31, when the cat was found, Kalispell had low temperatures of 8 degrees Fahrenheit, ABC News reported.

Dr. Jevon Clark, who works at the Animal Clinic of Kalispell, said the cat’s temperature was so low it didn’t measure on a thermometer.

Cats’ temperatures, Clark said, are normally about 101 degrees. The thermometer goes down to only 90 degrees.

Vets used warm water and blankets for two hours to revive the cat. Eventually, after that didn’t work, Fluffy was taken to the emergency room.

Hours later, the animal was able to show signs of recovery, ABC reported.

The Animal Clinic wrote that it was an “amazing success and survival story from this week.”

“Some clients found their injured cat buried in snow. They brought her to us essentially frozen and unresponsive. Her temperature was very low but after many hours she recovered and is now completely normal. Fluffy is amazing,” the post read.

Social media users offered well-wishes for the cat.

“This is a miracle with some quick thinking on the part of her ‘parents’ and this wonderful vet! This outdoor cat has certainly used up one of her nine lives! She is so lucky that she found such amazing care. LOVE this story,” wrote one person.

Added another: “Poor little kitty! Thank goodness someone found her! She’s beautiful!”

“It really is true that with hypothermia they aren’t dead until they are warm and dead. Excellent save! So glad the veterinarians and technicians and the owner worked hard to save this cat!” wrote another woman.

Kalispell, Montana (Google Maps)

Cold Weather Can Sap Electric Cars

Cold temperatures can sap electric car batteries, temporarily reducing their range by more than 40 percent when interior heaters are used, a new study found, reported The Associated Press.

The study of five electric vehicles by AAA also found that high temperatures can cut into battery range, but not nearly as much as the cold. The range returns to normal in more comfortable temperatures.

Tesla electric-powered sedan at a Tesla charging station in Rieden, Germany, on June 11, 2015. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Many owners discovered the range limitations last week when much of the country was in the grips of a polar vortex. Owners of vehicles made by manufacturers including Tesla, the top-selling electric vehicle company in the United States, complained on social media about reduced range and frozen door handles during the cold snap.

“As long as drivers understand that there are limitations when operating electric vehicles in more extreme climates, they are less likely to be caught off guard by an unexpected drop in driving range,” Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering, said in a statement.

AAA tested the BMW i3s, Chevrolet Bolt, and Nissan Leaf from the 2018 model year, and the Tesla Model S 75D and Volkswagen e-Golf from 2017. All have a range of at least 100 miles per charge. They were tested on a dynamometer, which is like a treadmill, in a climate-controlled cell.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.