Florida Rescue Kittens Beat The Odds And Find A Forever Home Together
It’s amazing how rescue missions often bring kittens closer together. Many times, two little ones who start with nothing end up finding everything in each other.
That’s exactly what happened with Bean and Chickpea, two fragile fosters from Tampa, Florida. Their story begins with hardship, but it ends with friendship, healing, and the happiest ending of all, adoption.
Chris Poole, known online as “Cat Man Chris,” received a message from a woman in Riverview, Florida. She had come across three tiny kittens but simply couldn’t afford to care for them.
Tragically, two of the babies didn’t survive, leaving just one little fighter: Bean.
When Chris read her plea for help, he knew he couldn’t take it on alone. Overwhelmed with work and other rescues, he reached out to someone he trusted, Nadija Falbo of AnimalLuvr’s Dream Rescue.
She lived only minutes away and immediately agreed to step in.
When Nadija arrived, she was shocked by what she saw.
“When I grabbed him to put in my carrier, I was shocked how skinny he was. I thought I was going to break him by just holding him. Bean was very frail, covered in fleas; his stomach and back were black from fleas and flea dirt. The little guy was screaming out and cold. Of course his eye was covered in dirt and discharge from the eye infection.”
Bean was three weeks old but weighed only six ounces, closer to the size of a one-week-old kitten. He was severely underweight, weak, and desperately needed help.
For days, Nadija focused on stabilizing him. She cleaned him gently, treated his flea infestation, bottle-fed him, and kept him warm.
Slowly, Bean’s strength returned, and before long, his playful personality began to shine.
A visit to Dr. Sabshin at Harmony Vet Care made an even bigger difference. The stubborn scab covering Bean’s eye was carefully removed, saving it from further damage.
From there, it was all about recovery and learning how to just be a kitten again.
Around the same time, Nadija welcomed another foster — a tiny kitten named Chickpea.
She came from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, where she had been left without a mother or siblings. She was battling a nasty upper respiratory infection that made eating nearly impossible, leaving her weak and timid.
Nadija, once again, became the lifeline. She bottle-fed Chickpea, gave her medicine, and surrounded her with warmth and care. Within a few weeks, Chickpea blossomed into a happy, fluffy little girl.
Once Bean and Chickpea were both healthy enough, they became roommates. Alongside another foster named Pinto, the kittens turned Nadija’s home into their playground.
“All three came from different backgrounds and met in foster care where they became best friends! They are all still a few weeks away from being able to get vetted. But are enjoying all the perks an indoor home has to offer. Lots of toys, treats, food, soft blankets, and lots of playtime!”
The trio was inseparable, but Bean and Chickpea’s connection was especially strong.
They played together, slept together, and even had their spay/neuter surgeries on the same day, recovering side by side.
Nadija knew she had to keep Bean and Chickpea together forever. And her wish came true. About two months after they arrived, the bonded pair found their forever mom. Pinto, their playful sidekick, was adopted only days later.
Today, Bean and Chickpea are living proof of how love and care can change everything. Their story reminds us that adopting rescues not only saves lives but also brings endless joy to the families who welcome them.
