VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A tiny kitten's life was saved thanks to a unique tool created at the Virginia Beach SPCA.

Aoife arrived at the Virginia Beach SPCA after both of her littermates died — she was in critical condition. Along with suffering through calicivirus and a severe eye infection, Aoife had to undergo radiography due to her serious difficulty breathing. This revealed she had a rare and troubling condition: flat-chested kitten syndrome.

This condition — often fatal — occurs when the kitten's ribs form in a manner that restricts normal breathing. Often times, it gives the adolescent feline a "box-like chest."

Thankfully, the Virginia Beach SPCA team thought outside the box — or rather, inside the toilet paper roll. A "corset" was created to help reshape Aoife's malleable ribcage

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