Resilient Indiana Kitten Grows Into Playful Explorer Alongside His Best Friend

Beginnings are never easy, but for one tiny gray and white kitten, life started out especially rough. He was the sole survivor of his litter, fragile and fighting for every breath. 

Fortunately, fate brought him into the hands of Erin H., an experienced foster caregiver with ARPO, who refused to give up on him.

From the start, Erin knew it wouldn’t be simple. The kitten, later named Eros, was so weak that he couldn’t nurse on his own. Around the clock, she fed him by syringe, waking every few hours through the night. 

When that wasn’t enough, she switched to tube feeding, an even more delicate process that required steady hands and constant monitoring.

It was a lot of sleepless nights, but her determination was fueled by the hope that this tiny creature would pull through.

After a long week filled with worry and very little sleep, Erin finally noticed the smallest but most important sign: Eros was improving. His appetite strengthened, his body gained weight, and his will to live shone through. As Erin said in an interview:

“He has been pulling through and growing like a weed.”

The day his eyes opened for the first time was a moment of celebration. That little milestone meant Eros was ready to step forward into the world.

Naming him after the Greek god of love felt perfect to Erin. Her little fighter was already proof that love and dedication can change everything.

With each passing day, Eros transformed. His round belly was a clear sign of good care, and his once-shaky steps turned into confident little waddles. Soon, he was bouncing around his foster space, exploring with all the curiosity a young kitten should have.

But as a singleton, Eros longed for a companion. Kittens thrive when they have a buddy to play and grow with, and Erin knew he needed a friend.

At the same time, another ARPO volunteer, Lori White, was caring for a ginger kitten named Kali. She too had been found alone, around the same age as Eros, and was eager for companionship.

When Eros and Kali met, it was as if they had been waiting for each other all along. Both had known loneliness, but now they found comfort in each other’s company.

Almost immediately, they started wrestling, chasing, and tumbling around as if they were siblings separated at birth.

Eros quickly moved into Lori’s home alongside Kali, and another foster kitten named Rani, who had been shy and hesitant to play. With two new lively companions, even Rani began to come out of her shell.

Life in Lori’s house soon became a whirlwind of playful energy. The trio zoomed around rooms, climbed cat trees like daring little explorers, and curled up together for long naps. Their tiny meows and steady purrs filled the home with joy.

One day, Lori caught an especially sweet moment: Kali perched high on the cat tree, Rani reaching out her paw, and Eros hiding below before springing out to join the fun. It was like watching three furry kids inventing games only they understood.

For Eros, the journey from fragile newborn to adventurous young kitten is nothing short of miraculous. Once a day-old orphan who required round-the-clock care, he’s now a thriving little cat with a best friend in Kali and a playful foster sibling in Rani.

Thanks to the tireless work of ARPO’s volunteers and the love of his foster moms, Eros has beaten the odds. His story is a reminder of how much difference one person, or in this case, a network of caring fosters, can make in the life of a vulnerable animal.

From lonely beginnings to a future full of cuddles, play, and adventure, Eros is proof that every life, no matter how small, deserves a chance.