A stray kitten, who has captured national attention appearing like a balloon due to air trapped beneath her skin, has a T-shirt celebrating her and available for purchase Friday to benefit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter’s “Love Fund,” which provides urgent medical treatment for shelter animals in critical condition.
Artist Amber Fossey designed the shirts that depicts Zoe the kitten with a balloon above her, which are on pre-sale until March 22 at midnight, and all proceeds will go to the shelter’s fundraiser.
“I am invested in this tiny stray kitten rescued this week over at Palm Springs Animal Shelter,” Fossey said on social media earlier this month.
According to the shelter’s website, the fundraiser will provide care to animals who arrive at the shelter, especially those brought in by Animal Control or surrendered during emergencies, with severe medical conditions and need specialized, often lifesaving care.
It was not immediately known how much the shelter has raised so far.
Zoe arrived at the shelter about a week ago for having too much air trapped under the skin, otherwise known as subcutaneous emphysema, which resulted in her body appearing swollen or puffed-up.
Dr. Phil Caldwell, medical director of the shelter, said on social media that Zoe’s condition was possibility brought upon by trauma to her airways, which caused air to go into spaces that shouldn’t have air, and he also could not identify what caused what triggered the trauma.
To address the issue, Caldwell poked Zoe’s neck, chest and back area with a needle and extracted the air. The air has not since returned after the procedure.
Zoe has garnered much attention with people online giving her nicknames, including “Puff Kitty” and “Mrs. Puff.”
On Thursday, Caldwell said that Zoe has reached two pounds and was getting better each day.
To purchase a “Puff Kitty” T-shirt, go to bit.ly/zoethepuffkitty. To donate to the love fund, go to psanimalshelter.org.