By Kat Bryant

Grays Harbor News Group

A tiny kitten named Sasquatch is going home with her new family on Friday after a traumatic few weeks.

When the kitten was rescued from underneath a trailer early this month, she had insulation wrapped tightly around the knee of her right-rear leg. The person who found her removed the insulation, but the leg remained swollen to four times its normal size from the knee down to her paw, according to Dana Staab-Erickson.

Staab-Erickson is executive director of PAWS of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, where the kitten’s rescuer took her for help. The 6-week-old dilute calico was quickly named Sasquatch (because of her big foot).

“We took her to the vet that afternoon,” said Staab-Erickson. “The folks at Raintree were awesome! They watched her for 48 hours to see if the swelling would go down, but it didn’t.”

On the second day, the injured leg started to get cold, which meant it was dying. That meant amputation was required to save the kitten’s life.

But PAWS didn’t have the money available to pay for that surgery, so on May 6 Staab-Erickson created a fundraiser through Facebook in hopes of collecting the $1,200 needed to save little Sasquatch.

Within just two hours, 38 donors contributed a total of $1,490.

“Those funds covered her surgery, blood work, vet visit, and her basic care,” said Staab-Erickson. “I really was shocked how quickly our community came together. It still gives me chills!”

The operation was performed May 8 at Raintree, and Staab-Erickson has been fostering Sasquatch at her home since the vet released her. She was already moving around by then.

“She’s so young, so resilient — a little spitfire. Losing a leg didn’t slow her down at all,” she said. “We let her out free in the house after a few days, and she was fearless — running around and terrorizing our other pets.”

She’s still getting the hang of keeping her balance on three legs, though. “She’ll run and put her front brakes on and flip over,” laughs Staab-Erickson.

Sasquatch is getting her stitches out Friday and then will go to her permanent home with one of the families who contributed to her medical expenses.

“I’m just so happy we were able to help her,” said Staab-Erickson. “It’s a good thing she’s so darn cute!”

DANA STAAB-ERICKSON PHOTO The “spitfire” kitten has been holding her own in Dana Staab-Erickson’s household as she heals up. Here, she fluffs up as Robin the black cat inspects her.

DANA STAAB-ERICKSON PHOTO Sasquatch’s right rear leg was swollen to about four times its normal size when PAWS took her in.

DANA STAAB-ERICKSON PHOTO Since her injured leg was amputated at Raintree Veterinary Services, the tiny kitty has been thriving.

DANA STAAB-ERICKSON PHOTO The “spitfire” kitten has been holding her own in Dana Staab-Erickson’s household as she heals up. Here, she fluffs up as Robin the black cat inspects her.