On a hot day in Las Vegas, Nevada, a small family of furry companions found themselves abandoned on the sidewalk outside a pet clinic.
Packed into two pet carriers, the mama cat and her three kittens were left with no way to escape. Their desperate cries for help went unheard as most businesses in the area were closed for Labor Day. It seemed as though no one would come to their aid.
However, fate had other plans. A staff member from Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions, who was locking up the shelter for the day, noticed the carriers and immediately grew concerned. She decided to check on them, worried that someone might need assistance.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
As the staff member approached, she noticed a torn piece of paper attached to one of the carriers. The note read: “I sorry. Good kitty girl. No $. Please help.”
Looking inside the carriers, she was shocked to see a mama cat and her three kittens, visibly distressed from the heat.
Quickly realizing the urgency of the situation, she rushed them inside to safety.
“We immediately brought the carriers inside our adoption center. While they were panting and hot, they thankfully weren’t in an emergency situation,” Kimberly Wade, marketing manager for Homeward Bound Cat Adoptions, told The Dodo.
Fortunately, once inside the shelter, the family began to cool down and recover. It appeared they hadn’t been outside for too long. Wade noted that the panting was likely a result of the stress from abandonment and the heat.
After a quick vet check-up, the family was found to be in good health. The mama cat was thin, but this was expected since she had been nursing her kittens. The cats were affectionate and friendly, clearly having been raised in a home environment.
The mama cat was scanned for a microchip but didn’t have one. Since the kittens, still just seven weeks old, hadn’t been weaned yet, it was clear they would need to stay with a foster family.
That’s when Ellen Richter, a foster parent, stepped in. She had come to the shelter to pick up medication for one of her own pets when she stumbled upon the tiny family. Richter felt it was meant to be.
“I do believe it was fate. I had been trying to get to the shelter a few times that weekend, and my schedule was too chaotic,” Richter said.
A New Beginning For The Family
At first, the kittens were incredibly shy and hesitant. They huddled together in their carrier, seeking comfort from each other rather than exploring their new surroundings.
However, their mother, Italia Ristretto, was much more social. She eagerly sought attention, displaying a playful and energetic nature despite her young age of less than a year.
Richter initially worried that the kittens would become even more withdrawn after Italia Ristretto went to the vet for her spay procedure. However, she was pleasantly surprised as the days went by.
“They actually did well. As I started to sit in the room and talk to them, they climbed into my lap and sat beside me,” Richter added.
Italia Ristretto is currently recovering from her spay surgery and microchipping at the Las Vegas shelter. Soon, she will be ready to begin her search for her forever home.
The kittens, meanwhile, are thriving in their foster home and showing more of their unique personalities.
“The kittens don’t miss her, are eating on their own and doing fine. [They] are just young enough that they are still figuring out who they are, but so far, they are silly, clumsy, curious, playful, intrigued and shy,” Wade shared.
Richter frequently shares updates on Instagram, where followers can keep track of the kittens’ journey. Two of the kittens have grown more confident and have started exploring their surroundings. However, the smallest kitten is still very timid and requires extra reassurance.
Richter has a special way of comforting the shyest kitten, often wrapping her in a blanket and cuddling her gently. Over time, the kitten has started to trust humans more and more.
While the family’s beginning was filled with hardship, their future looks far brighter. With the love and care they are receiving from their foster family, this tiny family will soon know a life filled with safety, warmth, and affection.
Thanks to kind-hearted humans who stepped in when they were needed most, these kittens and their mother now have the chance at the life they deserve. The future is certainly looking up for them, and their journey is just beginning.
