Lowe's Shopper Finds Tiny Week-Old Kitten at Local Store, Instant Bond

When one New Yorker stopped by a Lowe's store in September 2023, she was only planning on purchasing some items for the garden, but she's told Newsweek how she ended up leaving with a lifelong friend instead.

Julia Makris, 27, was walking around the gardening section of the store when she heard a faint crying noise nearby. She searched all over and eventually discovered a tiny kitten, thought to be a week old, by the side of some metal crates which had been stacked up.

Makris didn't hesitate to help the poor cat out, who she could tell was clearly distressed. Before taking the cat, named Missy, home, Makris stopped by Petco to buy formula, bottles, wipes, and even a stuffed toy.

She knew it wouldn't be easy, telling Newsweek that the "main difficulty was just keeping her alive," but there was no question in her mind about taking on the challenge.

"She was estimated to be about a week or less old when I picked her up, and she was not doing well. The vet said it seemed like she hadn't eaten in a while, and the main concern was making it through the night," Makris said.

"I was able to get her to take formula with a syringe the vet gave me, and from there I began taking care of her 24/7. She needed to be fed every two hours at first, and after every feeding, we had to get her to go to the bathroom as well. It was exhausting and I am so thankful my mom was there to help."

Makris weighed Missy every day using kitchen scales to ensure she was putting on weight and growing. As she got older, they were able to reduce the feedings to once every three hours, then every four and so on. Thankfully, this wasn't the first kitten Makris has rescued, so she was familiar with the tireless work it required.

She initially planned to take care of the kitten until she was strong enough to go to a forever home, but in that time, they built an unbreakable connection and Makris decided to keep Missy for herself. Now, she's thriving in her New York home and loves her older feline sister too.

Makris told Newsweek: "I feel so blessed that I was able to save her. I often wonder what her life would be like if I hadn't found her. I also wonder what her mom and the rest of her litter is doing, where they are today. I wish I could've saved all of them."

As much as she reflects on those early times with fondness, she also remembers just how exhausted she was, even joking that she felt as though she "had a real baby" at times.

The Social Media Reaction

Despite the sleepless nights and constant stress, Makris is so glad she saved Missy and gave her a loving home. She recently shared the story of how she "found a tiny kitten at Lowe's" in a TikTok post (@juuuullleeessssss), and it instantly went viral. In just a few days, it's gained over 4.7 million views and more than 754,000 likes.

The pictures show just how tiny Missy was when she was discovered, and how she gradually grew into a healthy, playful, and happy cat.

Makris has loved the positive social media reaction, and she's even connected with others who have similar rescue tales to share.

She continued: "The cat distribution system did its thing and it worked out so well. I have got a lot of feedback from people who have also found kittens at Lowe's and Home Depot. A lot of people who work at those stores have commented saying they often have litters born in the garden section.

"Raising a newborn kitten is not easy, it's so much work and so exhausting. I'm a foster and I work with rescues in NYC, so if you find a kitten, please reach out to a rescue for help. A kitten's best chance of survival is with their mom, but if they don't have that, it's best to find an experienced bottle feeder."

Since Missy's story went viral online, Makris was contacted by someone who discovered two kittens and Makris has offered to foster them until they're ready for adoption. So, not only did Missy's story melt hearts, but it could also save two extra lives as well.

With over 6,900 comments on the viral post, many TikTokers praised Makris for not giving up on Missy. One comment reads: "Thank you for this happy ending. I was starting to worry when you were speaking of her in past tense."

Another person wrote: "Sobbing! Right place, right time."

While another TikToker joked: "Me omw [on my way] to Lowe's to look for a kitten to help."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.