While Maci Raney was out running errands one day, she never thought a special furry friend would walk into her life and change it for the better.
As she pulled into the parking lot of her local Tractor Supply Store, she heard an unusual sound coming from the nearby bushes. Sure enough, it turned out to be a tiny tabby kitten, all alone with no mother in sight.
Wanting to help the poor kitten, Maci got out of her car and slowly approached the area where she was hiding. In a video she shared on TikTok, Maci said:
“I called her, and she immediately ran to me. I don’t know if that was the universe telling her that I was there to rescue her.”
Maci carefully scooped up the kitten, determined to bring her home and nurse her back to health.
And boy, did she need help! According to Maci, the little lady was covered in fleas and dirt, her eyes were matted, and she was overall lethargic.
Despite this, she was very friendly and sweet, making biscuits in her new mom’s embrace as if she knew everything was going to be alright. This earned her the adorable name: Biscuit!
Fortunately for Biscuit, she was in good hands! Not only did Maci already care for several animals at home, but she also held a degree in agriculture and animal science and had previous experience working in vet offices.
So, Maci knew exactly what Biscuit needed. She gave her a much-needed flea bath, treated her eye and ear infections, and promptly called the vet to schedule an urgent appointment.
Being as responsible and loving as she is, Maci also returned to the Tractor Supply Store to ensure she hadn’t missed any of Biscuit’s siblings and to check if the mother had returned.
However, she found only an abandoned hiding spot among the bushes, the sad place little Biscuit had called home — thankfully, only for a short period.
After a second flea bath, Biscuit looked like a completely different kitten! All that was left was to wait for the vet appointment.
Sad News From The Vet
The day of the vet visit arrived, but unfortunately, it didn’t go as Maci had hoped.
Biscuit tested positive for feline leukemia (FeLV), a disease affecting about 2% of cats in the United States and leading to the destruction of the cat’s white blood cells and immune system.
In another video she shared on TikTok, Maci expressed her devastation upon learning about Biscuit’s condition.
This development meant she could no longer keep Biscuit without risking the health of her other cats, who, despite being vaccinated as kittens, were still at risk of infection.
She reached out to her followers, asking if they could recommend any rescue organizations that accept FeLV-positive kittens, hoping to secure the best possible life for Biscuit.
However, through extensive research and helpful comments from followers who had faced similar situations, Maci found a glimmer of hope.
Apparently, it’s often possible to get a false-positive FeLV test result, especially in very young kittens, where the result may stem from the mother’s antibodies still present in the kitten’s system.
Since Biscuit was only about 3 weeks old, Maci decided it was worth retesting, hopeful for a different outcome.
Phew! False Alarm
At her follow-up appointment, Biscuit’s FeLV test came back negative, just as Maci had hoped!
Overjoyed, Maci shared the happy news with her TikTok followers, saying:
“We are negative, and we are on our way to live our best lives!”
After expressing her gratitude for their support and advice, Maci confirmed the news many were hoping to hear: She was going to keep Biscuit!
Country Cat’s Happily Ever After
Biscuit grew up to be a happy farm cat who gets to enjoy the perks of both indoor and outdoor life.
According to her mom, Maci, she loves mingling with other animals on the farm, including cats, dogs, chickens, and rabbits. It sounds like she’s leading a pretty amazing life, don’t you agree?
I’m so glad Maci heard Biscuit that day in the parking lot, and I’m thrilled these two found each other. Do you have a similar rescue story you’d like to share? Feel free to do so in the comments below.
