Tiny cries from a truck led people to find six kittens. Now, they had their first Easter in comfort and warmth.
Penny Richards
A Good Samaritan heard what sounded like a cat meowing from a garbage truck and immediately sought help. Several TNR animal rescuers sprang into action and were able to locate the kittens inside the truck.
"We believe they were born in the trash truck. They weren't in any box or bag that had been thrown out. The truck itself was active (and full of trash), but it was idle during the days that the kittens were actually born," Penny Richards, foster volunteer of Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA), shared with Love Meow.
Rescuers waited for the mom to return, but she was nowhere to be found. They brought the six into the AWLA kitten program to be cared for around the clock.
Penny Richards
The next day, rescuers went back to resume their search for the mother and discovered she sadly didn't survive the tough stray life. Her six miracle babies would have a different fate now that they were safe. They had a warm bed to nestle in and kind people to cater to their needs.
Vimto, the runt of the litter, was held back when she was a few days old. While her siblings continued to make good gains, she was fighting for her life.
Vimto is the runt of the litterPenny Richards
Through intensive one-on-one care, she bounced back like a warrior and was well enough to rejoin her crew.
Her littermates embraced her with open arms and feet and showered her with micro purrs. Against the odds, Vimto would become the biggest character of the bunch.
Penny Richards
After two weeks in foster care, their eyes opened wide, and their ears unfolded. The kittens started to shuffle around their nest. Though they hadn't quite mastered their balance, they grew increasingly curious about their surroundings.
The moment Penny walked in with bottles in her hands, the six leaned against the incubator, peering over the top.
They are Ribena, Irn Bru, Lucozade, Vimto, Lilt, Tizer named after classic British beveragesPenny Richards
Some even attempted to clamber over, vying to be the first to be fed. After feeding, they collectively nuzzled into their blanket and rolled around, showing their bellies.
Once they were big enough to move into a playpen, the resident cat, Colman, came to offer a helping paw.
They graduated into a playpenPenny Richards
He jumped right into babysitting the kittens, keeping them company while they honed their gait.
"Ever since they were tiny, they were always rolling around the incubator while purring. Now, they come onto my lap and immediately flop over and roll about, purring happily."
Colman came to offer a helping pawPenny Richards
Vimto is still the tiniest of the litter, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for in personality.
"She is the bravest little girl. After overcoming her first hurdle, where we thought we were losing her, and being so far behind her siblings in weight, she has pushed through with so much spirit and has become a perky, fun, and feisty little girl."
VimtoPenny Richards
The kittens started hopping and running with a spring in their step, chasing and wrestling each other, brimming with energy.
"Lilt always squints her eyes and looks perpetually tired. Ribena is a busy lady with a voice that needs to be heard," Penny shared.
Penny Richards
"Vimto is packed full of personality and loves to climb people. Lucozade is a gentle, quiet guy who loves to be held. Tizer likes to wrestle his siblings, and Irn Bru adores his foster parents and yells at me at meal time."
The six form a tight-knit clowder, always playing and napping together.
Irn Bru the roly-polyPenny Richards
They just had their first Easter, zooming around the place, eating to their heart's content, and napping in a purr-pile with their bellies filled to the brim.
"They are very much bonded to one another. There is never a kitten sleeping alone."
Penny Richards
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Related story: Cat is Over the Moon to Have Kittens in Warm Abode and Purrs Her Way Through Every Day