They helped a cat but didn't know they would also save four kittens who would grow into the cutest little shadows.
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Earlier this year, a cat with a wounded paw was found abandoned and alone outside. A kind woman took her home, assessed the injury, and realized she needed urgent care.
She reached out to her local rescue, Chatons Orphelins Montreal, asking if they had room for a cat in need. Even though they were already at capacity, the volunteers rallied together to save her.
They brought the cat in for treatment, and a volunteer offered to foster her. But at the vet, they discovered she wasn't the only one that needed help.
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Remarkably calm, she let the vet team clean and treat her paw as if she understood they were helping her. When they examined her belly, they found she was pregnant.
Exhausted and hungry from the ordeal, she spent the next few days enjoying hearty meals and plenty of rest. She was soon on the mend, and her body quickly filled out.
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Her paw healed without the need for surgery. Once she could move freely, she started exploring her surroundings, greeting everyone with head bumps and purring everywhere she went.
"She spent much of her time sleeping as she waited for her babies to be born," Celine Crom from the rescue shared.
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One morning, she surprised her foster family with four kittens, each a mini version of herself.
Three of the kittens latched on with voracious appetites, while one needed a little help from the foster carer. For the first 48 hours, the momma cat couldn't produce enough milk for her hungry kittens, so the foster family stepped in to supplement them.
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Two days later, her material instincts took over. She began handling all the mom duties, feeding and cleaning her little ones around the clock.
"Their foster mom weighed the kittens every day to ensure they were making gains. There are two girls and two boys, all looking like their mom. Vigorous eaters, they quickly developed nice, round bellies."
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Over the next few weeks, the kittens grew by leaps and bounds, reaching new milestones. They played together and napped as a clowder. As they outgrew their nest, they blossomed into energetic little shadows, dashing around the room like they owned it.
"Their mom takes excellent care of them and purrs a lot. She is truly fortunate to have been rescued from a life on the streets when she was injured and pregnant."
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From the moment the kittens were born, their mom was there, watching over them every step of the way.
Now that the little shadows are weaned and showing their own personalities, their mom stays nearby, overseeing the playful chaos in the room. But as soon as someone comes in, she greets them with the sweetest snuggles and purrs.
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"The four little ones are like clones, looking so similar that they wear collars to help us tell them apart. They are very curious, and as much as they love to play, they also cherish quiet cuddle time with us."
"Cerise is the most independent, Booboo is the explorer, and their two brothers, Ninja and Noxx, are the mischievous ones."
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The quadruplets don't seem to mind vet visits and allow the staff to hold them together like the snuggliest bouquet of kittens.
Their mom, Chalala, will never have to raise another litter and is ready to be loved and spoiled in her forever home. With a heart of gold, she's always eager for affection and adores every person and animal she meets.
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The kittens indulge in constant lap time with their foster family, their home echoing with the sound of rumbling purrs.
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Related story: Cat Arrives at Animal Shelter with Kittens Then Staff Notice She's Especially Close to Smallest of the Litter