A clever cat went up to kind people who let her in. Shortly after, she brought kittens into the world, safe from the freezing cold.
Belinda
About a month ago, a sweet cat wandered up to a family, seeking refuge from the freezing temperatures.
Seeing that she was heavily pregnant, the finders sprang into action to help her. After enduring roughly 60 days in the cold while pregnant, the cat finally found warmth, safety, and plenty of food indoors.
Shortly after, they walked in to find five little ones nestled comfortably with her.
WynterBelinda
A few days later, the finders brought the feline family to IndyHumane (an animal rescue), hoping to give them the best chance at thriving.
"When I brought her home, the kittens were about five days old. Wynter (the mom cat) was very friendly but protective of her babies," Belinda, a foster volunteer with IndyHumane, shared with Love Meow.
Belinda
Belinda prepared a cozy area with various nesting options for Wynter to choose from.
"It took her about a week to become comfortable and realize she and the babies were warm and safe. I had a playpen and a box set up for her, but she decided to move them into a cat tree."
Belinda
"She just wanted to hide them, but it was too high up, and there was no room for her to stay in it without them falling out."
Belinda rearranged the room to ensure there were no unsafe places for Wynter to hide her kittens. Among the litter of two girls and three boys, Slick (house panther) was the largest, while Olaf (gray tabby) was the smallest.
Belinda
Wynter finally settled into the box. She rarely left her kittens, carefully tending to their every whim.
Once their eyes were wide open, the kittens began rolling and waddling around, building strength in their legs. With growing curiosity and a fearless attitude, some even attempted to venture out of the nest.
Belinda
"The kittens are now three weeks old and still sleeping in the box. I have arranged it so they are able to move in and out of the box. Wynter is finally comfortable with her living quarters."
Wynter is doing a great job raising her demanding litter, but she would rather spend all day on her foster mom's lap if she could.
Belinda
Whenever Belinda enters the room, Wynter eagerly looks over for attention but stays with her kittens, committed to her motherly duties.
In a few weeks, the kittens will move beyond the nest, honing their feline skills and tearing around the room in playful bursts. By then, Wynter can take a well-deserved break and focus more on herself.
Belinda
Raising five kittens is no easy feat, but fortunately, this will be her last litter. For a while, it was touch and go as they struggled to gain weight. But with daily weigh-ins and a dedicated foster mom caring for them, they were soon back on track.
Before the kittens are weaned, Wynter spends her days keeping them well-fed and spotless from head to tail.
Belinda
"She is a good mama, but I can tell she is ready to be done. Only a couple more weeks."
When Wynter wandered to the family who took her in, she won their hearts with her sweet and affectionate nature. "She already has a potential adopter, the wonderful family who let her give birth in a warm place when it was freezing cold."
Belinda
With their newfound energy, the kittens are growing more active and mischievous, keeping their mom on her toes. Slick has just joined the one-pound club, making everyone proud.
Belinda
Share this story with your friends. More on Wynter, her kittens, and Belinda's fosters on Instagram @littlefostermeows and IndyHumane on Instagram.
Related story: Three Blind Cats Come to a Home Seeking Help, Family Brings Them in and Realizes One of Them is Pregnant