Charles and Caroline, two bonded cats, were turned to a shelter in Athens, Alabama when their owner had to relocate due to a job loss.
Forgotten Felines of Huntsville, a rescue group in Huntsville, Alabama, took them out of the shelter and into a foster home as the tuxedo needed extra help. "Caroline and Charles had been living in the same home and hadn't been spayed/neutered, so naturally, she ended up pregnant," Robyn Anderson, foster mom, said.
Charles was then neutered before joining his best friend in foster care. He was almost twice the size as Caroline, but she was full of sass. Charles spent a lot of time cuddling with Caroline while she was pregnant.
Right before Valentine's Day, Caroline went into labor and brought five healthy brown tabbies into the world. Charles gave her the space she needed but would come running when he heard the kittens cry.
"He stuck his head in the carrier once or twice to sniff at the kittens during the night, with Caroline looking on," Robyn said.
"They are named after Caroline and Charles Ingalls – Little House on the Prairie – and their kittens (two girls and three boys) are Laura, Mary, Albert, Almanzo and Willie."
Caroline was a wonderful mom from the get-go while Charles was a bit puzzled but interested in knowing more about the kittens. He kept checking them out and helped Caroline clean her tail.
When the mama took a break from nursing, she would snuggle up to Charles for a quick nap. "I think he missed her, but she was making a point of spending time with him."
Over the next few days, Charles regularly came to check on his little family.
While he was cleaning Caroline's face during one check-in, he licked a kitten a few times. From then on, he began to give the little ones more attention and love.
Charles would howl for his best friend if he didn't get to be with her much. "Caroline started spending more time out of the crate, just hanging out with Charles," Robyn said.
"Being able to just hang out near her is what makes Charles happy."
After Robyn upgraded the nursery to a big crate, Charles started kitten-sitting right outside while keeping Caroline company.
A week later, something adorable happened.
Caroline let him join them in the crate and snuggle together as a big cuddly family. At night, she would put her arms around him while he was grooming away.
"These kittens certainly do like their Pa, and the feeling is mutual. He spends time with them and has started playing with them. He also occasionally bathes them," Robyn told Love Meow.
Today, Robyn saw little Almanzo tagging along with his dad in the hallway, following his paw-steps.
The kittens are getting bigger and more playful each day, and starting to learn new skills from their parents.
Charles and Caroline share an unbreakable bond. Once the kittens are weaned, the cat mom will be spayed and look for a forever home together with Charles.
"This is her first and last litter. Once the kittens are ready, they will also be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and adopted out via Forgotten Felines of Huntsville here in Huntsville, Alabama."
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Watch Charles and Caroline caring for their kittens in this cute video:
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