'Christmas Miracle' as Cat With Icicle for Tail Rescued From Under Snow

A kitten's rescue from under a pile of snow has been described as a "Christmas miracle" by his new owner.

Reddit user Strawberby4 first shared details of the kitten rescue in a December 20 post on the website before it was removed.

But the Reddit user shared more information with Newsweek about how Weslie was found under a heap of snow by a neighbor during a walk in the Netherlands.

"It was soaking wet and his little tail was an icicle. The neighbor explained his dog had sniffed the little guy out of the snow but it had jumped into the water out of fear when he tried to pick him up," the Reddit user said.

"The kitten was shaking so badly and the neighbor quickly took it home and put it on a warm bottle in a crate. My mom had told him if he needed help he had only need to ask."

Later the same day, the neighbor left a letter in their mailbox asking if they would come over to talk about the kitten.

He asked the pair if they could care for the kitten and the pair knew they "couldn't say no to this little thing."

After wrapping the kitten in a soft winter coat, the Reddit user noticed he was not particularly active and seemed lethargic and called an animal shelter.

"His body temperature was still a bit low and he was dehydrated and covered in fleas. She made sure he got medical attention and he stayed there the night," the Reddit user told Newsweek.

"We picked him up the next morning and he looked a lot better. He was not used to humans at all so he was hissing at us a lot the first week. I spent a lot of time with him and let him see I am a good servant and we bonded. Weslie is now racing through the house, socializing with my other two cats and little dog, eating the stinkiest wet food and being very loved. He is a true Christmas miracle."

According to the U.K.-based charity Blue Cross, cats aren't used to extreme weather and can develop hypothermia and frostbite.

Blue Cross shared some advice on how best to keep your cat warm in the house when it is cold outside, which includes:

• Provide them with warm beds and blankets in a draught-free, cozy spot to curl up in.
• Consider moving them into a warmer room when the temperature drops at night.
• Make sure your cat has indoor litter trays for when it's too cold to go outside, even if they aren't used to using one.
• Dry your cat off after an adventure in wet or snowy weather, so they can get cozy indoors.
• Use a pet-safe microwavable heat pad and slip it under a cozy blanket—it will stay warm for hours.

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.