Penny Rippa: The Burn Survivor Who Stole Every Heart
Last spring, a barn in Boone, Iowa, went up in flames. Firefighters rushed to the scene, battling back the fire with all their strength. In the chaos, they were told there might be kittens trapped inside. As smoke curled into the air, the firefighters pulled not one, but four tiny, soot-covered kittens from the wreckage.
The babies were alive — but barely.
At just five weeks old, their lungs struggled against the smoke, and their fur was matted with ash and grime. Thankfully, the Boone Area Humane Society (BAHS) was already on-site. Staff members quickly administered oxygen, hoping to give the little ones a fighting chance.
That’s when they discovered something extraordinary: three of the rescued kittens were female orange tabbies — a rare genetic quirk. According to veterinarian Sandra C. Mitchell, only 20% of orange cats are female, making these babies part of an “elite club” of felines.
But rarity wasn’t the only thing that made this litter unforgettable. The smallest kitten of the group, later named Penelope, bore the worst of the fire’s wrath. Her tiny face and delicate paws were badly burned, and her left eye was gravely injured.
“She was pretty severely burned,” said Kim Adams, BAHS social media manager. “She lost a lot of fur.”
Despite her condition, Penelope’s spirit never wavered. Even in pain, she purred, snuggled, and reached out for affection — proving she was a fighter with a heart full of love.
While her siblings went to foster care, Penelope required constant, specialized treatment. The BAHS director personally took her home, providing 24-hour care. Every few hours, Penelope’s wounds were cleaned, medication was applied, and her eye was carefully treated with antibiotics.
For over a month, it was a delicate dance between hope and heartbreak. Then, against all odds, Penelope began to heal. Slowly, her fur grew back in bright creamsicle orange, her burns softened into scars, and miraculously — her eye regained sight.
BAHS celebrated her triumph online:
“It was touch and go for a while. But this brave little girl is a survivor!”
Even with permanent scar tissue around her eye, Penelope’s zest for life never dimmed. She blossomed in foster care, quickly earning a reputation as a snuggle-bug who loved to hug her humans.
“She was always so sweet and loved everyone the moment she showed up,” her foster mom said. “She loves to give hugs.”
Three months after the fire, Penelope’s story came full circle. She and one of her sisters were adopted together into a forever home. Her new mom gave her a fresh name to match her fiery spirit: Penny Rippa.
“She is so perfect in every way,” Penny’s mom shared. “My lil’ love bug, Penny Rippa! She is so loved here … and nothing is gonna slow this girl down.”
From a smoke-filled barn to a safe, loving home, Penny’s journey is a reminder that even the smallest survivor can carry the fiercest will to live.