It would be pretty difficult to debate the cuteness of kittens. However, kittens won't stay cute for long if they have a tumultuous upbringing on the streets. That's why volunteers at a shelter in Seattle have saved so many cats and their litters from life as a stray cat. One cat family, in particular, stood out to a volunteer. She agreed to bring all five cats home with her and foster them until they were strong enough to be adopted. Read on to discover the heartwarming journey of a rescued cat and her litter of kittens.
A Special Litter Of Kittens
These kittens may look like a normal group of furry friends, but they've had quite a unique experience. Though they all look different, they, in fact, belong to the same litter, and their mom is one tough cat.
The litter and their mother were living on the streets when they were found and saved by a neighbor. Fortunately, the kittens were in decent health when they were found and brought to safety. They were barely a few weeks old when the kind woman rescued them.
Meet Rosie And Her Litter
These four kittens belong to a tortoiseshell cat named Rosie. The cat roamed about the neighborhood as any typical outdoor cat would. Locals weren't too concerned until they noticed that Rosie was going to be a mother.
Sure enough, Rosie gave birth to four kittens outside in the bushes. The adorable cats were all too precious to ignore. Fortunately, Cindy knew how to properly care for and foster the kittens. She took them in and watched them grow.
Here's A Good Kitty Trick
One way that Cindy would keep the litter entertained but safe is by putting them in the bathtub. You just line the bottom of the tub with a soft blanket and load the kittens in. The siblings looked adorable playing in there when they were still so tiny.
The hack is great for kittens because they are small but fast. The tub allows them the autonomy they crave while keeping them in a safe space. Plus, it's hilarious to watch them try to climb up the sides.
Rosie Has A Mini-Me
Of the four kittens, only one looks identical to their mother Rosie. This is Frances when she was still very young. The adorable little kitten may look vulnerable here, but she went on to quickly establish herself as the leader of the pack.
Perhaps her confidence comes from looking like her mother, who is clearly a bold cat for having no trouble birthing a litter alone in the bushes. Whatever the reason, Frances was the first to start wandering on her own.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
As Frances got a little older, it became very apparent that she was her mother's daughter. The cats have very similar fur. It consists of all the same colors, though Frances has a bit more gray while Rosie has more deep black in her coat.
Frances also has a unique pattern on her coat that sets her apart from her mom. However, their eyes and ears are particularly similar. They're also similar in their independent attitudes.
The Brave Little Kitten
Cindy Congdon, the rescuer of the litter, told Love Meow that Frances is "definitely the alpha of the pack." While the other kittens are more concerned with snuggling and sleeping, Frances seems ready to learn from mom.
In this photo, Frances appears to be on the prowl as she mimics her mom, Rosie. The kitten is a fraction of the size that Rosie is but still appears sure of herself as she trots alongside her mom.
Where's Frances?
While her sibling was photographed, Frances couldn't help but pop her head around to be in the picture. Her outgoing personality shows confidence that isn't always present in young kittens, particularly ones born strays.
According to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, fearful cats are those who haven't developed full social skills. They state that it's vital for kittens to interact with humans from the time their just a few weeks old so that they won't be afraid of them later on.
An Early Bond
Fortunate for Frances and the rest of her siblings, Cindy's kind and nurturing demeanor established a positive foundation for the kittens. This photo shows Cindy petting Frances just a matter of weeks after she was born.
Despite being found on the streets, Rosie is a very loving kitty according to Cindy. She told Love Meow that she's also a great mother to her kittens. The litter turned out to be quite lucky to have both a caring mom and a human caretaker.
Happy, Healthy Kittens
The kittens are older now, and they look more like mama Rosie than ever. When the kittens are first born, they are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. Now, these kittens look ready to be photographed for a cat calendar.
Frances is in the middle of the group in typical alpha fashion. The sign behind them says, "You had me at meow," which was true for their neighbor Cindy. Now the kittens just need a family to permanently adopt them.
Meet Cindy Congdon
Cindy Congdon, pictured here, is a local of Seattle, Washington, and a devout cat lover. While volunteering at the Seattle Humane Society, she couldn't help but offer to take these kittens home with her. She's cared for not only cats but for their entire families.
She can be seen in cat shelter videos playing with cats, feeding them with tiny, special-made bottles of milk, and even letting the cat pounce on her phone while they attempt to play a game.
A Cat's Dreamland
Cat items fill both Cindy's house and the cat shelter, offering plenty of toys and structures to keep the cats happy. While most cat owners might have one play structure, the volunteers can sometimes be watching several cats at one time.
In order to keep a hold on so many adorable kittens, it's helpful to have items like the ones pictured here. Especially when it's a long-term arrangement that involves the kittens getting bigger and more productive, it's helpful to have varied items that keep them challenged.
Here's What A Brand New Kitten Looks Like
This cat and her little kitten are another family that Cindy and her rescue shelter have helped. As you can see, the kitten is just days old. Its tiny ears have barely begun to poke out of its head, but its face definitely looks like that of a cute kitty.
In this photo, the mama cat holds her kitten the same way a human would hold her baby. Her paws wrap around the small animal while it sleeps on her chest.
Standing On Its Own
Kittens grow incredibly fast. According to Alley Cat Allies, their first week of life consists of their ears unfolding and their eyes opening up. It isn't until their third week of life that they can confidently move around and start to play.
Like humans, newborns are very fragile. However, kittens become full-grown in just one year. That's why it's so important for kittens to get the nutrients and socialization that they need. This way, they can function properly when they are grown.
Here Are The Kittens You're Used To Seeing
That brand new kitten we saw a couple of pages ago has now grown into a kitten that most people can more easily recognize. The iPhone box it's standing in shows how tiny the kitten is, but compared to the other photos it looks quite grown.
Based on the Alley Cat Allies website, this cat looks to be somewhere in the month-and-a-half range. The kitten's ears are fully formed, and it's probably is darting all over Cindy's house.
This Cat's Pulling Double Duty
A mommy cat snuggles her two kittens in her arms in this photo. The siblings are just days old and don't appear to have opened their eyes yet. Their pink paws are still much too fragile to do much of anything apart from squeezing mom.
Similar to human babies, kittens love to feel the pressure of another body or even just a blanket. For kittens born on the streets, their mom's fur may be the only comfort they have in the harsh, dirty outside world.
They Fit In The Palm Of Your Hand
These sibling kittens can easily fit in their foster mom's hands. Though they are held comfortably in a blanket, they don't seem too fond of being out of their mom's arms. One thing that makes Cindy and people like her so valuable is what they do for cat families.
Those who foster animals sometimes enable kittens to stay with their mother and siblings longer. It's rare that a family is prepared to adopt more than one kitten, sometimes resulting in families being separated.
Workers Are Trained To Care For Newborns
When a kitten is in its first few weeks of life, it requires some things that older kittens don't. Since they are so fragile, it's important to be aware of them at all times. They also need a lot of food, which they'll need to drink through a bottle until they can eat.
These kitten siblings are already much bigger than when we first saw them, but they'll still need a bottle until they're about one-and-a-half to two-months-old.
Almost Ready For Adoption
Usually, kittens aren't ready to be adopted until they're about two months old. This is because they have specific needs when they're tiny and because they are so small and delicate. It also has to do with them weaning off their mother.
By the time a kitten is about eight weeks old, they usually are used to eating solid foods and have gained some level of autonomy. Kittens may still look to their mother for comfort, but it becomes less frequent. They also learn to groom themselves and others, which can help them bond with their siblings.
This Cat Still Gets To Enjoy Her Kittens
For cats and kittens in foster care, it isn't known how much longer the families will remain together once the kittens are up for adoption. The young furballs become independent at what like lighting speed.
But just because the kittens don't need their mom or siblings, doesn't mean that they don't still enjoy the comfort. Thanks to volunteers like Cindy, these cats grow up in an ideal environment. This protects families who adopt the cats from enduring aggressive behavior from a mal-treated kitten.
Time To Find A Permanent Home
Now much larger and exceedingly independent, these kittens can make their way to their own adopted families. While it can be melancholy to see cats pulled from their families, it is a far better alternative to them being left on the streets.
A cat with a newborn litter on the streets would have a harder time than one living the life of luxury in a home. It's people like Cindy and other volunteers who rescue these cats and their litters so that they can have a full and safe life.
