Kitten Rescued from Industrial Adhesive Becomes Beloved Companion

A four-month-old kitten is doing well after being discovered coated in industrial-strength glue.

According to a TikTok shared by CBC News, the young cat was brought to the Humane Society of North Texas in mid-April by a "good Samaritan" who came across him in that condition.

Misty Mendes, the shelter's director of shelter medicine, described the extent of the problem to the outlet. "It was covering his head, his ears, his mouth, his nose. It was completely all over his body," she said. The staff were uncertain if he would make it through the night, as Mendes noted the substance "absolutely can be deadly, not only from just the toxin, but I had no idea at that time if he had ingested any."

Mendes characterized the situation as a "fight against time," particularly because the glue around his mouth and nose had to be cleared so he could breathe.

She explained that the team tried various methods. "We were trying to use anything we had," she said. "We started with Dawn dish soap, [but] it wasn't working very well." Eventually, they came across a bottle of canola oil and used it to clean him.

It took several days to fully clean the kitten, Mendes said, with staff members "spent six hours intermittently massaging Elmer with the oil, washing him off in warm baths, and syringe feeding him."

Mendes described his condition during the process. "He was shaking," she said. "I think he was probably very close to death because he didn't fight. He didn't meow, he didn't hiss or growl. He was just very, very lethargic, but very tolerant."

After he was cleaned up, the shelter named him Elmer after the glue brand. Mendes said that now "he is amazing." The Elmer brand itself commented on the TikTok video, writing, "So happy to see brave, little Elmer thriving in his new home 🧡."

CBC News reported that Elmer was adopted by Leah Owens, 72, who had initially volunteered to foster him.

Owens told the outlet, "We just fell in love with each other. I could tell he loved me, and I knew I loved him." Following his recovery, Elmer is described as playful and sweet, and he enjoys to "crawl up in my lap and… put his little paws on my face, such a sweet little kitty."