Kitten recovering after book drop ordeal

The abandoned kitten rescued from a book drop box in Cheltenham Township made it through the night, but is still battling multiple ailments, an SPCA official said this morning.

Carmen Ronio, director of the Montgomery County SPCA, said shelter workers in Conshohocken are struggling to control the kitten's diarrhea. It also suffers from dehydration and a cold.

The 15-ounce feline has been named Hemingway, Ronio said. The kitten was stuffed into a library drop box at the La Mott Community Center in Cheltenham sometime between 9 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Temperatures hit the 90s during the time the kitten spent in the box.

A maintenance worker heard mewing and summoned police and officials who had the key to the box. The cat was freed at 9:30 a.m. Friday and rushed to the SPCA for medical care.

Since then, it has been received fluids and antibiotics, Ronio said. Shelter workers have placed foods tempting to cats in its cage, along with a stuffed animal for company.

"We're still hopeful," Ronio said this morning.

Contact staff writer Bonnie L. Cook at 610-313-8232 or bcook@phillynews.com