A cat shied away in a shelter but started to shine when she entered a home and saw her kittens thrive.
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For a few weeks, this mother cat and her kittens stayed at an animal shelter, waiting for their colds to clear up.
The shelter environment was overwhelming for the mother, who spent most of her time huddled in a corner. Things began to change when Heidi Shoemaker, the founder of Foster Kitten Mama, offered to take them in and give them a chance at a better life.
Once they were well enough to travel, the mom, Colette, and her six little ones left the shelter.
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She remained still in the carrier, with wary eyes, as she and her multicolored kittens were being transported. She was just skin and bones, and some of her kittens were also critically underweight.
Upon arriving at the foster home, Colette cautiously entered her new space. With her kittens darting around her, she searched for a corner to hide and decompress.
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While adjusting to her new surroundings, she huddled in the litter box despite having multiple comfy beds available. Some of her kittens joined her, while others made themselves at home, playing with toys and climbing cat posts.
"The babies have been in a tiny space in the shelter for most of their lives. They are very excited to have toys and quickly figured out what to do with them," Heidi shared.
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"They are already coming out of their shells. They sleep in a pile in a corner, a learned behavior to stay safe. I can't wait until they are fully comfortable and adjusted and have no problem falling asleep anywhere."
"Mama is very scared and mostly hides in the litter box but has come out to lay in the corner."
Colette and her tiniest kittenFosterKittenMama
Heidi brought some soft treats for the mom, who couldn't resist the tempting smell despite her fear. She gingerly approached Heidi and took a few licks from the tube. "That made my heart happy."
The fear in her eyes instantly melted away with the peace offering from her foster mom. She even came back for seconds.
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Slowly, Colette started to let her guard down with the help of her favorite treats. "She is making small improvements each day. It really takes just sitting with her calmly, giving her treats, and trying to get a bit closer each day."
Heidi provided the family of seven with daily "room service," maintaining a clean playpen with fresh blankets and litter and carefully monitoring their weight and growth.
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"These babies are five weeks old and should be well over a pound. The little gray tabby is only eight ounces. We are doing everything we can to make sure we get the little one's weight up and on a healthy track."
The solid gray kitten, Yukon, was the second smallest of the litter.
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Colette has regained strength, filled out beautifully, and become more confident since stepping out of the carrier. Heidi continues to provide supportive care, helping the two tiny kittens improve their appetites and thrive.
The size difference between the two smallest kittens and the others is striking.
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Colette has retired her "airplane ears" and even allows her foster mom to pet her for a few seconds. "I'm thankful she's had stability, warmth, calm, and all of the food she desires. She's going to be a wonderful cat when she finally knows she's safe forever."
Yukon loves falling asleep with his face pressed against his mom, even when she's standing.
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In less than two weeks since leaving the shelter, Colette is well on her way to a bright future, making progress every day. Her kittens are full of energy and playful antics, turning their space into a bouncy castle.
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