Two kittens living by train tracks found house cats who taught them how to trust.
Jenny
Animal rescuers discovered two orange kittens living by train tracks and set out to rescue them.
With great patience and effort, they secured both kittens and brought them into foster care. At around two months old, they'd had little to no human contact. Weary and fearful, they huddled in a corner, seeking solace from each other.
"That's on the cusp of when it can get hard to socialize them. They were pretty nervous and scared for a while," Jenny, who fosters for Tails High, shared with Love Meow.
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese were found living by train tracksJenny
The kittens, affectionately named Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese, were treated for stomach troubles and quickly realized that their foster mom always came with food. After two weeks, they began to adjust to indoor life.
"Tomato Soup is very curious and wants to explore everything. Grilled Cheese is a little less sure about the humans, but she'll come out and play when I'm around."
They slowly warmed up to indoor lifeJenny
Once the kittens fully recovered and were ready to socialize, Jenny noticed how much they loved being around other cats.
When they met Minestrone, another kitten rescued from the same site, they immediately accepted her and started snuggling together. As soon as they saw the resident cats, their eyes lit up, eager to make new friends. "They love the big cats and are even interested in the dogs."
Minestrone, Tomato Soup, and Grilled CheeseJenny
Encouraged by their feline friends, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese mustered the courage to venture into the rest of the house.
"I leave the foster room door open during the day, and they can come up in the living room and my office with me. That way, they can get used to the normal sights and sounds of a house but can still retreat to the comfort of the foster room if they get scared."
Jenny
Freddie, one of the resident cats, is a foster extraordinaire who has helped Jenny socialize many newcomers. He seems to have the magic touch, bringing even the shyest kitty out of their shell.
"He's so good with the kittens—always gentle and snuggling with them. They may not have a mom, but Freddie is a good stand-in."
Freddie and one of his foster kittensJenny
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese began to trust with the help of the resident cats. "Once I started letting them interact with my cats, that was the big turning point. They loved my cats immediately. And that helped them to feel braver and want to come out and explore."
Freddie happily let Tomato Soup lean in for a cuddle, gently washing her face and soothing her with purrs.
Freddie and Tomato SoupJenny
The two feline sisters have come out of their shells and fully embraced indoor life. When they are not romping around, chasing toys, or dashing through tunnels, they can be found snuggling with other cats, especially Freddie.
"If I can't find them, I know to just look for my cats, and they'll be cuddled up with them."
Freddie taught them how to enjoy indoor lifeJenny
"It's taken time, but they've slowly gotten braver. My adult cats have shown them that houses are fun to run around and get into trouble in and that the human with the food and treats is not so scary. I keep telling them I know they secretly love me, even if they're not ready for full-on cuddle sessions yet."
Freddie has taught the two the art of relaxing—they can nap all day without worrying about their next meal.
Jenny
Being around other cats has given Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese newfound courage. They have become more independent and truly blossomed into their happy, playful selves.
Jenny
Share this story with your friends. More on Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese, and Jenny's fosters on Instagram, and Tails High on Instagram.
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