Portland Vet Saves Mama Cat And Her Three Newborn Kittens, Then Heartbreak Follows
When Jessica Thompson, an experienced veterinarian and foster mom in Portland, Oregon, received a late-night call about a cat who had just given birth to three kittens, she prepared herself for what she expected to be a demanding foster journey.
What she didn’t realize at the time was that this experience would unfold into a story filled with heartbreak, perseverance, and a renewed sense of hope. Here’s how Jessica navigated the difficult path ahead.
Jessica shared that the struggling mother cat had given birth inside a car. The previous owner, who had recently been evicted, was living out of the vehicle with several pets.
When the kittens arrived, the overwhelmed owner realized they couldn’t manage their care and left the little family at a local mechanic’s shop.
The mechanic then reached out to the people at PDX Cat Trapper, a Portland-based nonprofit focused on controlling feline populations through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs.
They then contacted Jessica, who agreed to take the cats under her wing.
When the mother cat first arrived, she was completely withdrawn. She didn’t respond to touch, ignored food and water, and lay stiffly on her blanket. Too weak to even use the litter box, she soiled the bedding beneath her.
Even more concerning, she showed little interest in her newborns. Jessica quickly stepped in, syringe-feeding the fragile kittens and carefully monitoring their progress.
By the next day, she noticed only one had gained weight while the other two had slipped back slightly.
Still, there was a glimmer of hope – their urine was beginning to look healthier, a sign that their tiny bodies were starting to recover.
Jessica’s deepest worry, though, was for the runt of the litter. Sadly, her fears were justified, as the smallest kitten didn’t pull through despite her best efforts.
Later that same day, the smallest kitten sadly passed away. His urine had become tinged with red, and he began to breathe irregularly.
Devastated by the loss, Jessica expressed her grief on her Instagram page:
“I tried. I’m sad. I’ll keep trying with the others.”
The heartbreak deepened the following day when the Thompson foster home lost a second kitten.
Jessica opened up to her Instagram followers about how hard she had fought to save him – keeping him warm, feeding him regularly, and even nestling him close to his mom in hopes of sparking a bond.
But sometimes, no matter how much love and care is given, the outcome is beyond anyone’s control.
With two little ones gone, Jessica shifted all her energy toward the surviving kitten, who showed a spark of determination, and toward helping the exhausted mother cat slowly regain her strength.
Amid all the heartache, a glimmer of hope began to shine through. The mama cat slowly started to come around, leaning on Jessica’s care and even showing affection toward her remaining kitten.
The next morning brought more good news – she accepted breakfast for the first time and seemed noticeably stronger. When Jessica weighed the tiny survivor, the scale showed a small but meaningful gain.
That little milestone was enough to lift Jessica’s spirits, a reminder that in rescue work, progress often comes in fragile but powerful steps.
Feeling hopeful both mom and the baby would make it, Jessica decided to name them. She shared their names on her Instagram:
“Mom’s name is officially Serenity and baby is Phoenix. Phoenix for resilience and Serenity so she never has to go through that trauma again.”
Over the following days, both Serenity and Phoenix blossomed in ways that felt nothing short of miraculous.
Serenity, once withdrawn and overwhelmed, grew into a nurturing and affectionate mother. Phoenix thrived under her care, eagerly nursing and steadily gaining weight.
By the tenth day, the tiny fighter reached another milestone – her eyes opened for the very first time, signaling a bright future ahead.
As more days passed, Phoenix continued to hit important milestones. She shed her umbilical cord, found her footing with a few unsteady steps, and grew curious about the world around her.
Yet no matter how far she wandered, she always returned to Serenity’s side, seeking comfort in her mother’s warmth and gentle care.
All of this made Jessica so happy. She said:
“Watching these two blossom is amazing. Serenity is asking for pets and attention where 3 weeks ago she just sat in the corner shaking, terrified.”
After a month with Jessica, Serenity and Phoenix were unrecognizable from the scared pair that arrived.
Their story of survival and the power of love serves as a heartwarming reminder of the miracles foster care can achieve.
I genuinely hope that in the coming days, this mother-daughter duo will only continue to thrive, and that soon they’ll find their forever home together.
