Illinois Woman Follows Faint Cries To A Barn And Finds Two Tiny Lives Pressed Close Together
We like to believe mother cats never walk away from their babies. But sometimes, reality tells a different story.
When Alyssa Masten, a seasoned kitten rescuer and director of operations at Orphaned Kitty-Corner in Illinois, heard sharp, desperate cries echoing from a barn, she knew something wasn’t right.
The sound wasn’t playful or curious; it was urgent.
Following the cries, she stepped inside and felt her heart sink. Curled together in the corner were two tiny kittens, pressed close as if trying to comfort each other. No mother in sight.
They were so small, so fragile in a world that suddenly felt far too big for them. Whatever had happened, one thing was clear: if Alyssa hadn’t followed those cries, their story might have ended very differently.
Both kittens were suffering from serious eye infections, which made it likely that their mother had abandoned them.
Alyssa quickly scooped them up and began giving them the urgent care they needed. What surprised her most, however, was the unusual size of one of the little ones.
She decided to call the smaller kitten Copper, a fitting name for such a unique little one.
What made him stand out was that he was only half the size and weight of his brother, making his fight for survival even more remarkable.
Despite being around 2 weeks old, tiny Copper looked as though he was a newborn kitten. Mantes said:
“I was incredibly concerned upon first seeing them, but he has been a great eater and is overall healthy otherwise.”
She also added:
“I’m already obsessed with the little thing and am excited to post updates on his progress! If his size continues to stay below average, we will explore further, but I am betting he will catch up.”
And so Copper’s recovery journey began. Alyssa carefully fed him his formula, often with the gentle sounds of birds playing in the background to soothe him as he grew stronger. She said:
“Once Copper started gaining his energy, his personality blossomed!”
She usually leaves background noise for her kittens, especially when she leaves for work. She added:
“They like a variety of classical music, thunderstorm, birds, and ocean waves each week!”
Copper was such a tiny and fascinating little kitten that he naturally stole the spotlight.
In fact, Alyssa found herself so focused on him that she nearly forgot to introduce his equally sweet brother, whom she named Silver.
Silver, on the other hand, was a healthy, normal-sized kitten with striking blue eyes and bright white whiskers. In every way, he seemed picture-perfect – strong, beautiful, and full of life.
Tiny teeth began to emerge as he grew, and he adored purring contentedly and lounging after each meal.
Both brothers made wonderful progress, and it was clear Alyssa would have no trouble finding them the loving homes they deserved.
Now the kittens are thriving with a wonderful family of cat lovers, where their days are filled with cuddles, playtime, and cozy naps. I like to think they’re still happily purring after every meal.
All of this was possible because of Alyssa, who heard their cries and rushed to their aid. Without her compassion and quick action, the fate of these two tiny brothers might have been very different.
