Five Abandoned Kittens From Virginia With Their Umbilical Cords Attached Miraculously Survive

One day, five tiny newborn kittens were discovered outside with no mother in sight.

Penny Richards, a foster volunteer with the Animal Welfare League of Arlington in Virginia, stepped in right away, determined to give them a chance at life.

The fragile babies were just two days old, their umbilical cords still attached. The fact that they were alive at all was nothing short of a miracle.

Penny understood that every moment counted for the fragile little ones. She quickly created a warm nest with heated blankets and began bottle-feeding them every few hours.

Soon, though, a new problem appeared – the kittens started suckling on each other. While this reflex is common in orphaned kittens, it can be risky and even harmful if it continues.

However, according to the Maddie’s Fund, this behavior needs to be taken seriously due to potential harm.

“Damaged tissue on a kitten being suckled on can be life-threatening; the genital area can get traumatized to the degree that a kitten is unable to pee.”

Thankfully, Penny found a solution. She outfitted the kittens in tiny protective onesies to prevent this behavior until they outgrew it.

Among the five kittens, one stood out from a young age. Piccadilly, or Dilly, was the smallest kitten and needed extra encouragement to eat. Penny shared in an interview:

“I always started the feeds with her because she was the noisiest and then went back and offered her more when everyone else was done.”

Dilly was a special kitten. She was the last to open her eyes and progressed more slowly, requiring more attention. Penny described her:

“She loves people. When she was tiny and developed her sight, she would just sit and watch everyone around her. She was noisy when awake, but when asleep, she was always in such funny position. She could be found snuggling with her lamb (cuddle toy) more often than not, even on top of it.”

Though she was the tiniest of the litter, Dilly’s personality stood out right away. She had no problem making herself heard and was never shy about sharing her thoughts.

As the kittens grew healthier and stronger, Dilly’s spirited nature only became clearer. Full of energy and spunk, she was always the first to pounce on fuzzy ball toys and dive headfirst into playtime.

However, what Dilly loved the most was snuggling in someone’s warm lap and never letting go. Penny said:

“She was very cuddly, and always climbed onto my lap for snuggles while purring away.”

Every day, Dilly would sit in her foster mom’s warm lap and watch her with her big doe eyes.

When the kittens were finally grown, Dilly was still the tiniest of the group, but she carried herself just like the others.

She stayed playful, mischievous, and bursting with energy, always ready for fun. And once she had worn herself out, she would curl up in the nearest warm lap, happily recharging with a cozy nap.

Penny added:

“Piccadilly has been a joy to have around! From day one, she has the biggest personality crammed into the tinniest body. When her eyes opened, and her sight came in, she would just sit and stare at me, watching everything I was doing and taking it all in.”

Penny said:

“She has been bold and loud and so entertaining, but little Dilly has the sweetest side to her. She always came for cuddles on my lap and loved to sleep up against me. She never stopped purring, and as soon as I called her name, she came running over.”

Once the kittens were old enough, each one found a forever home – including little Dilly, who finally got the loving family she deserved.

She’ll never have to worry about feeling lonely, as she now has an older feline sister named Ronan, who has lovingly taken her under her wing.

The bond between them is remarkable, as if they had been raised side by side. Dilly trails after Ronan everywhere, eager to copy whatever she does.

Shira, Dilly’s new human mom, couldn’t hide her excitement:

“Dilly is getting so big. She’s five months old and 5.3 pounds. She spends a lot of her day running around, bugging her sister, and watching the humidifier. She loves climbing on the headboard, snuggling with me under the covers… She makes me laugh constantly with her silly antics.”

Dilly is truly one of a kind, showing that even the smallest kittens can carry the biggest personalities and the warmest hearts.