When volunteers from an animal rescue in Pennsylvania, Cat Tales, saw a feral mama who had given birth in the harsh cold, they knew they had to take her and her babies to a safe place.
Capturing her wasn’t easy, as the mama cat was very fearful and protective of her babies. However, the experienced volunteers successfully completed their mission.
They provided the mama cat with a warm and quiet space where she could safely care for her babies.
After just a few days of dedicated care, mama cat slowly began to warm up, while her kittens started to improve.
However, as the kittens grew, one of them completely stood out from the others. One of the kittens, Rye, was way smaller than his siblings and that worried their caretakers. A fosterer at Cat Tales shared in an interview:
“Around six weeks in, it was noticed that the kittens were rather small, with Rye being the runt.”
Fearing for her health, their foster parent, Tracey, took matters into her own hands. Rye, the smallest kitten in the litter, and her sister Crouton needed additional feeding support.
They just couldn’t afford to lose even a few grams. Thankfully, the kittens fought hard to survive.
Tracey syringe-fed the two kittens, providing them with round-the-clock care, and fortunately, the efforts paid off as the kittens quickly started to improve.
Though the smallest in the litter, Rye was the bravest. She truly wanted to live and fought hard for her survival. Tracey added:
“She is so small and fragile but keeps on trucking along. I anticipate her catching up. She has such a zest for life. She is adorable and doesn’t complain at all.”
The other kittens, much bigger and progressing rapidly, seemed to be doing well. The tuxedo kitten, the only boy in the litter, was named Pumpernickel.
He’s such a sweet soul. When he’s not playing or wrestling with his sisters, Pumpernickel is seeking attention from his humans. Tracey said:
“Pumpernickel is the love bug of the group. He is gentle and sweet.”
Crouton was almost as weak as Rye, but her overall condition was far from critical. Tracey shared:
“Crouton is so strong. She was wasting away, but fought to live. She was syringe-fed until she started feeling better and eating on her own.”
And finally, the fourth kitten was named Sourdough. Not only was she one of the healthiest kittens in the litter, but she was also the loudest. Tracey added:
“Sourdough is the loudest. She lets everyone know she wants to be picked up.”
As the kittens received professional care, improving and growing with each passing day, their mother was spayed and retired from motherhood.
Thankfully, all four kittens managed to pull through. Now, they’re enjoying their lives in their foster home, always curled up on someone’s lap or snuggled together.
Soon, all four of them will be ready for adoption. I’m sure they will swiftly capture the heart of someone special who will love them unconditionally, just as they all deserve!
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