Kitten Who Survived 6,500 Mile Journey In A Shipping Container Meows For The First Time

Ni-Hao

The 3-month-old kitten who was discovered last week in Los Angeles in a freight container from Shanghai, China, and listed in "guarded" condition after the 6,500 mile journey, has meowed for the first time, and is now expected to make a full recovery.

Aaron Reyes, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, told TODAY.com, “We finally got to hear his voice. It sounds like a sputtering single-engine plane."

Ni-Hao has been showing signs of improvement since arriving at the shelter last week

The kitten, named Ni-Hao ("Hello") by staff and volunteers, was brought to the shelter in critical condition by the manager of the business that has received the container. The long journey left him weak, starving, and suffering from severe dehydration, but with the help of fluids, food, warm blankets, and lots of love, the kitten is showing signs of improvement. His eyes are now open (the abnormality may be from spending so long in the dark) and he can stand up, although he is still too weak to walk due to muscle atrophy.

Hi-Nao is currently under a standard 60 day quarantine at Carson Animal Care Center, but once his condition is stabilized, staffers are hoping he can be moved to a local foster home to aid in his recovery.

Reyes says, "Little by little we're getting there. We're hoping that under the treatment of our med team and with rest, he'll be able to continue to recover quickly."

Via Facebook (County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control) / TODAY.com