A stray cat picked the right home for a meal. Later, they discovered she had many kittens to feed.
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A cream tabby had been living on the streets for a long time, "diving into the drain to avoid neighborhood kids chasing her."
One night, a stroke of luck led her to the doorstep of a kind family who offered her food. "Hungry, she kept returning morning and night to be fed and started sleeping over," a local rescue, Best Friends Felines, shared.
As the cat warmed up to the family, they noticed her insatiable appetite and friendly nature and devised a plan to help her.
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Known as the local "street cat," she remained unclaimed, and no microchip was found. "The kind people took her to the vet, where she was found pregnant; no wonder she was hungry!"
She had been scrounging the neighborhood for extra meals until she encountered the caring family.
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When they contacted Best Friends Felines, volunteers at the rescue swiftly arranged a foster home and welcomed in the friendly stray named Oriana.
Oriana felt right at home, weaving around her carer's legs, begging for a head scratch. Delighted with her arrangements, she plopped her plump belly down on the floor, rolling around and filling the room with purrs. "I didn't think such a round kitty could sploot."
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Before long, she fell fast asleep in the comfort of her room, with her outstretched limbs reaching for the stars. "Oriana is a very sweet and cuddly cat and settled in very fast. She loves head rubs and will snuggle right into you."
After a few days in foster care, her purr grew louder, and her belly expanded, seemingly ready to pop.
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She kept her carers on their toes, rearranging the blankets several times a day. They couldn't help but wonder how many little lives were brewing inside.
Shortly after they shared an update about Oriana, wondering when the kittens would arrive, she decided it was go time.
She gave birth to five little kittensBestFriendsFelines
While most cats prefer to give birth overnight in a dark, quiet place - an instinct to keep themselves and the babies from harm's way - Oriana delivered her five in the daytime with her carers by her side.
"Oriana decided to have her kittens in the middle of the room, where she could be closest to her carers, rather than tucked away in one of the cozy 'den' areas that had been set up. She must be feeling pretty safe here, further showing off her friendly and trusting nature."
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By nighttime, Oriana finally approved the "den" and moved her babies one by one into the nest. "It helps to keep the kittens contained and safe while they're still so little."
All five bundles of joy turned out to have the same color pattern. "Oriana did a copy and paste with them, as they are all gorgeous little dilute calico girls, mostly gray with hints of white and cream."
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With Mama's complete devotion to her litter, the kittens are gaining weight, showing off their rotund bellies, and wiggling around with newfound strength.
"We weigh them every morning to keep a close eye on weight. Oriana is clearly taking great care of her babies. They're chunky, clean, and nearly always in a contented, quiet kitten puddle unless they're calling for the milk bar."
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"She is also a rather chill mother, content to relax and hang out in her room away from the kittens after their needs are met. She loves to greet her carers with a little chatter and purr, head boop and snuggle."
Oriana is full of gratitude whenever her people enter the room, offering the warmest cuddles and sweetest purrs she can muster.
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With a second chance, the family of six is thriving. No more running through the streets, fighting to survive - Oriana and her kittens will now enjoy the comfort of a loving home and the promise of a brighter future.
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Related story: Stray Cat Steps into a Home for the First Time After Being Outside for Years, His World Completely Changes