A bobcat kitten that arrived at the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center last October on the edge of survival has been successfully rehabilitated and released back to the wild, the organization announced Monday.

The female kitten was found Oct. 14 in bushes at a garden in San Clemente by a gardener who alerted authorities. She was taken to a veterinary hospital in Orange County, where she arrived unresponsive and required CPR along with a blood transfusion from a domestic cat. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife then transported her to the Ramona facility on Oct. 18, according to the San Diego Humane Society.

"She arrived in incredibly poor shape, battling everything from parasites to extreme malnutrition," said Alexis Wohl, wildlife veterinary manager at SDHS. "Seeing this patient transform from an emaciated kitten with little fur, into a healthy, powerful bobcat ready for the wild is the ultimate reward for our team."

During her months at the Ramona center, the bobcat stayed in an outdoor enclosure designed to mimic her natural environment, building strength and sharpening her hunting instincts. Veterinary staff administered antiparasitic medicine, fluids, and iron supplements as part of her treatment. She was released back to native habitat Sunday, Feb. 23.

The Ramona Wildlife Center, located about 20 miles north of Santee, specializes in the rehabilitation of apex predators and large mammals including bears and mountain lions, and is part of SDHS's Project Wildlife program. The nonprofit rehabilitates more than 13,000 wild animals each year across the San Diego region and is funded entirely by donations.