A 4-month-old Munchkin kitten named Dollie was stricken with a mystery illness that could only be solved by the collaborative teamwork of experts at Angell Animal Medical Center.

The tiny kitten was surrendered to the MSPCA-Angell late in 2022 when her owners became overwhelmed by the illness that was causing parts of her body to slough and fall off. Dollie lost her ears and tail, and one leg needed to be amputated.

Dr. Meagan Painter, Dermatologist at the MSPCA-Angell West, diagnosed the problem as ischemic dermatopathy, which is caused by a reaction in the body that leads to widespread inflammation and tissue death. Unfortunately, it will likely never be known what caused the reaction in Dollie, but having the diagnosis allowed veterinarians to save Dollie's remaining legs and completely heal her over two months in Angell's care.

After the MSPCA-Angell's public relations team shared Dollie's harrowing tale with the world, dozens of stories were published across New England and beyond, generating hundreds of adoption inquiries. It only took a few days before Dollie went home with a young couple. They renamed her Mochi and are documenting her journey through life on Instagram, @mochi.boston.