Saving lives and giving homeless animals a fresh start is at the heart of everything they do at the Homeless Animal Adoption League in Clifton, New Jersey. Their team has seen all kinds of challenging situations, but one stood out from the rest.
One day, they received a call about a troubling case. A worried caller reported a laundry basket left on the roadside, filled with tiny kittens.
The caller admitted he didn’t have the heart to leave them but wasn’t comfortable picking them up, because the mother cat was right there, huddled protectively around her babies.
Normally, the league focuses on shelter work rather than street rescues, but this felt urgent. Rain had started to fall and temperatures were dropping quickly, so they knew they had to step in.
When the team reached the site, they were met with a heartbreaking sight – a black cat curled around newborn kittens, shielding them from the elements. The league shared in a Facebook post:
“We saw a recycling container on the curb. Cuddled together with a mommy cat keeping them warm was at least four kittens. They were about 4-5 weeks old. Mom was quiet and looked up as if to say thank God you found us.”
The rescuers didn’t waste a moment scooping up the little family and rushing them back to the safety of the shelter. Everyone at the league was relieved to see that the kittens, a total of six, were safe, sound, and surprisingly healthy.
However, when they went to check on the mama cat who had stayed so devotedly by their side, they couldn’t believe their eyes. The “mother” was actually a male cat.
Their Facebook post shared the disbelief and admiration they felt:
“He could have been the dad or a big brother from another litter, but to those little kittens he was their protector and surrogate mom. That little cat has taught us that you do what you have to do to protect the most vulnerable.”
The team decided to name him “Mrs. Doubtfire” in honor of his unexpected motherly behavior.
The story of Mrs. Doubtfire’s devotion spread quickly, inspiring everyone who heard it. Volunteers marveled at how he groomed and cuddled the kittens, treating them like his own.
And so, Mrs. Doubtfire and the kittens were placed in foster care, surrounded by the warmth and support they deserved. Mrs. Doubtfire constantly watched over his tiny charges and everything seemed to be going well.
But one day, Mrs. Doubtfire started having trouble breathing. The league rushed him to the vet, where an X-ray revealed that he was suffering from a diaphragmatic hernia, likely from some past trauma.
He could have been through some horrific ordeal – hit by a car or even kicked, as the HAAL shared in an update post:
“His diaphragm was torn and his stomach and intestines have moved into his chest cavity. This injury is usually seen in cats that have been hit by cars or have suffered a trauma such as a kick.”
The diagnosis was devastating. This cat, who had shown so much love and resilience, now faced a life-threatening condition. Surgery was an option, but a risky one, and it came with a staggering cost of up to $8,000.
The survival rate, though, stood at a hopeful 65 percent. The league rallied around Mrs. Doubtfire, determined to give him every chance at a happy, pain-free life, sharing:
“Right now Mrs. Doubtfire is happy and comfortable and isn’t showing any major physical problems. The doctor said that cats can live a long time with the condition, and she has had patients that had the condition and their owners didn’t even know about it.”
Not long after, Mrs. Doubtfire’s foster family decided to adopt him. They named him Mrs. Francis Doubtfire, but he’s mostly called Frankie.
Now, surrounded by the warmth of his forever home, Frankie is truly thriving and his future holds hope. Each day brings new adventures, and he finds joy in playful moments with his furry siblings.
With his family cheering him on, a wonderful journey lies ahead for Frankie, one overflowing with the love, safety, and happiness he’s always deserved.
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