LA Woman Finds A Newborn Kitten With A Cleft Nose Lying In Her Backyard And Rushes To Help

newborn kitten

Sometimes life seems to hand the tiniest creatures the biggest challenges, and this one-day-old kitten was no exception.

From the very start, she was facing a fight for survival. Found alone in a backyard, this fragile little newborn with a cleft nose was barely clinging on.

But fortunately, there were caring humans ready to step in and give her a fighting chance.

newborn kitten with a cleft nose
Credit: Ashley Kelley

The story began when a kind woman heard tiny, desperate meows near her home. Curious and concerned, she followed the sound and was shocked to discover the newborn kitten lying completely alone.

Hoping that her mother might return, she carefully placed the kitten in a warm, safe spot. But no mama came back.

It seemed the poor little one had likely been abandoned right after birth, left to fend for herself in a world so big and unfamiliar.

woman kissing the kitten
Credit: Ashley Kelley

When Ashley Kelley, a foster volunteer with Wrenn Rescues in Los Angeles, saw a post about the tiny kitten, she stepped in right away, as she shared in an interview:

“Someone had found a solo kitten. It still had closed eyes and was meowing a lot, and obviously hungry. Something told me that I needed to go get it immediately. I got in touch with the finder, grabbed a mask and gloves, and hopped in my car.”

newborn black kitten
Credit: Ashley Kelley

Upon picking up the kitten, Ashley noticed the cleft nose, but nothing else concerning. She knew this kitten just needed a fighting chance.

Because of the cleft and a tiny hole in her palate, bottle-feeding wasn’t safe, as Ashley explained:

“She has a teeny tiny hole in her palate along with the cleft nose, so it’s not safe to bottle-feed her. She needs to be tube-fed.”

kitten wrapped in a blanket
Credit: Ashley Kelley

Right from the start, the kitten showed an incredible will to survive. So Ashley named her Aela, after a fierce video game character, highlighting her tiny warrior spirit.

Despite her fragile beginning, Aela quickly began to thrive. She already signals when she’s hungry and curls up for cuddles when she’s full.

She even recognizes Ashley’s scent, a sign that she’s forming a bond with the person keeping her alive. Ashley shared:

“Other than needing to be tube-fed, she is a remarkably normal kitten so far.”

hand holding up the kitten
Credit: Ashley Kelley

Every day, Aela grows stronger and more confident. It’s like she’s determined to prove that size doesn’t matter when you’ve got a big fighting spirit.

Thanks to the love and round-the-clock care she’s getting, her future looks bright.

And the sweetest part is knowing that one day, she’ll get the chance to curl up in a safe and loving forever home, where she’ll never have to struggle again.

photo of kitten in a blanket
Credit: Ashley Kelley

For such a fragile kitten who came so close to losing everything, that kind of happy ending would be the perfect reward.

Honestly, watching little Aela fight so hard and keep going just makes you feel amazed at how tough even the smallest creatures can be.

I really hope she finds a forever home full of love, cozy naps, and lots of cuddles. She totally deserves it.

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