After days, they found the missing cat. When she saw her kittens again, she immediately went to work.
Kelsey
About a week ago, Kelsey, a dedicated foster volunteer at IndyHumane, received a call about a litter of kittens desperately needing a bottle feeder. "They arrived at the shelter after closing, but I rushed over to take them in and assess their condition," Kelsey shared with Love Meow.
The 10-day-old kittens were brought in without a mother. Though their eyes were mostly closed and their ears folded, they were alert and in good shape. They immediately started hissing at unfamiliar scents, a natural instinct to protect themselves.
Kelsey
Once the kittens were settled in a cozy incubator to help regulate their body temperatures, Kelsey attempted to bottle-feed them, but it was to no avail.
"Every 2-3 hours, I would continue to try, and they would not participate. After almost 24 hours, I had to begin tube-feeding, which should only be done by trained individuals."
Kelsey
While doing everything she could, including using a toothbrush to mimic a mother cat's grooming (to provide a bit of comfort), Kelsey held onto the hope that their mom could still be found.
"If you find stray kittens, leave them be. If they're clean, quiet, and look healthy, their mom is likely nearby caring for them. Only intervene if they appear sick, injured, or malnourished," IndyHumane shared. "If possible, trap the mom and babies together—keeping families together gives kittens the best chance at survival."
Kelsey
With painstaking care and sleepless nights from Kelsey and another volunteer, Miranda, the kittens finally started to get the hang of the bottle.
After two days without any news about the mom, they worried they might never find her. Then, on the third day, they received the news they'd been hoping for.
They found the mom cat and reunited her with her kittensKelsey
"After days of tireless care, we got the news we had been hoping for—Mom had been trapped. The moment she was brought in, she sniffed through the grates and immediately rolled over, ready to care for her babies again."
Kelsey could finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the kittens now had their best chance at life. "I'm not sure who is more excited, the babies or me," Kelsey added.
Kelsey
"They gained 10-15 grams each overnight and have continued to grow under her care since. She was a little nervous but let us handle her babies with ease and even began to chirp at us when we entered the room."
"They are the happiest babies I've seen, and they deserve it."
Kelsey
The kittens are thrilled to be back in their mom's embrace. With their eyes open, they are becoming more active and curious about the world around them.
Another volunteer, Jennifer, created a comfortable nursery for the feline family, ensuring the mama had the perfect environment to raise her young.
Kelsey
"Upon arrival at her home, Mama immediately relaxed into her new space, began purring for the first time, and tended to her babies. They will all get new names in the coming days."
The mom is incredibly attentive, doting on her kittens around the clock. With newfound strength, the little ones are rolling around like roly-polies, clinging to their mom and competing for the best spot to nurse.
Kelsey
In a couple of weeks, they will begin to venture beyond their nest, keeping their mom on her toes.
Reuniting the kittens with their mom is the best outcome the rescue could hope for. Now, they are thriving as a family in their warm, loving foster home.
Jennifer
Share this story with your friends. More on the feline family and Jennifer's fosters on Instagram and IndyHumane @indyhumane. Thanks to Kelsey @pennyandthefosters and Miranda.
Related story: Family and Their Cat Change Everything for Little 4-week-old Kitten in a World He Cannot See
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