A cat was thankful when a person took her family in, and she even allowed their gentle canine to kitten-sit.
Molly and her kittensLaura@raylan_the_dog
A heavily pregnant orange and white tabby was brought to an animal shelter after being left behind by her family. Lost and confused, she felt overwhelmed in the shelter environment.
She gave birth alone in her kennel that night. Volunteers immediately moved them to a foster home. Despite their best efforts, only three of the five kittens survived.
They realized she wasn't producing enough milk and rushed them to the vet for help.
Molly gave birth in the shelter shortly after she arrivedLaura@raylan_the_dog
"That's when Raylan (Laura's dog) and I got the urgent call that they needed a special foster," Laura, an experienced foster carer, shared.
Laura welcomed Molly (the cat) and her three kittens, George (an orange boy), Fred (an orange and white boy), and Ginny (an orange and white girl), into her home and prepared a comfortable nursery for them. Knowing Molly needed help feeding her kittens, she got right to work.
Laura@raylan_the_dog
"Decreased milk production is often influenced by nutrition and stress."
With a nutritious diet and a calm space, Molly began to decompress while Laura tended to her kittens around the clock. "These emaciated kittens need bottle-feeding, subcutaneous fluids, and cuddles."
She's happy to be in a home with a dedicated foster mom catering to their needsLaura@raylan_the_dog
While Raylan anxiously awaited Molly's approval to lend a paw, the kittens started to make good gains. Weighing less than they would have at birth, the trio had a lot of catching up to do.
After a few days of attentive care, Molly's milk supply steadily improved.
Laura began supplementing the kittens around the clockLaura@raylan_the_dog
"Molly is producing some milk, but the kittens still need supplemental syringe feeding (every six hours or so)."
Around that time, Molly noticed Raylan, a seasoned foster kitten-sitter, quietly observing from the sidelines. He patiently watched for her cues, making sure to respect her space and boundaries.
Molly met Raylan the cat-adoring dogLaura@raylan_the_dog
Whenever Laura supplemented the kittens, he assisted by washing their faces and keeping them clean. He was thrilled to dote on them any way he could. With the support of their loving foster mom and gentle giant friend, the kittens turned a corner.
"Ginny is enormous and thriving, but George is a runt and needs extra care. Fred is in the middle. Overall, they're all headed in the right direction."
George is the runt of the litterLaura@raylan_the_dog
Molly seemed to notice the good deeds of her canine friend and gradually warmed up to him. She would roll over for belly rubs next to Laura, with Raylan watching just a few feet away.
With his sweet and gentle nature, she became comfortable around him. "She's so sweet that once she realizes he can give her more attention than I can, she'll be all over him."
Molly slowly warmed up to RaylanLaura@raylan_the_dog
Watching how gentle Raylan was with her kittens, Molly felt at ease. She started taking breaks between feedings, stretching, and seeking affection and pets from her foster mom.
The kittens nestled with their canine friend, who was over the moon to cuddle them to sleep.
Raylan was over the moon to cuddle the kittens to sleepLaura@raylan_the_dog
From being left behind to giving birth in a shelter to now lounging cozily in a loving home, Molly is truly content.
She feels safe and cared for, with a trusted foster family ensuring a bright future for her precious kittens.
Laura@raylan_the_dog
Share this story with your friends. More on the feline family and Raylan and Laura's fosters on Instagram@raylan_the_dog.
Related story: Woman Went to Shelter for a Kitten and Came Home with Little Guy Who Believes He Can Conquer the World