This little tabby had a rough start to life. He was the only survivor in his litter. His sheer will to live helped him through without food and warmth from a mother.
Meet Foster the little fighter!
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
A sweet kitten was found in a very rough part of Las Vegas on Christmas Day. He was born to an extremely feral cat.
A woman found him lying on top of his siblings, covered in maggots. He was the only kitten that survived. The kitten was infested with fleas and was on the verge of fading away. They cleaned him and brought him back from the brink. Though he was not out of the woods, the kitten never stopped fighting.
Danielle, an avid fosterer and rescuer in Las Vegas, was contacted about the kitten who desperately needed round-the-clock care. She couldn't say no.
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
"Normally, I would never take a baby away from his mama (their best chance of survival is with mama) but in this scenario, he wouldn't have made it if he stayed," Danielle told Love Meow.
She started feeding him with a syringe every couple of hours and named him Foster.
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
As soon as he latched on, he began to wiggle his ears and sucked down the formula while kneading away with his paws, in pure bliss.
Look at those ear wiggles!
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
"Just as I was getting ready to put him and myself to bed for a couple of hours before his next feeding, he crawled up on my chest, purred and fell asleep," Danielle said.
"He just wants to feel love, be safe, warm, fed and protected. And that is why every foster parent does what they do - to give a tiny little life a chance."
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
The sweet tabby had a wonderful first night at his foster home. "I had to wake him up to feed him. He didn't make a peep all night. What a little gentleman."
For the first time in his life, he had a full belly and someone to snuggle with. He craved meal time with his foster mom and would curl up in her arms after getting food coma.
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
"Seeing Foster doing so well brightens my world."
At just over three weeks, Foster reached one pound.
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
Foster made yet another milestone. He started weaning and moving into a playpen as he had outgrown his nursery pen.
"He's turning into a baby cat! He's got his little teeth, is climbing out of his bin and is staying awake much longer."
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
"Every night Foster and I curl up with an electric blanket together. We play and snuggle. It's my favorite time of the day."
A few days ago, Foster had his first meal of solid food. "It takes him about half an hour to suckle down 1/4 can of wet kitten food. We are working on learning how to take actual bites."
Foster loving his big playpen.Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
"From day one when I got him I knew he was going to make it. It's always scary with a neonatal kitten, but this little guy is so full of life and such a character! He loves to listen to my husband play the guitar and just wants to snuggle but only after he's got his wiggles out and done playing," Danielle told Love Meow.
"He's really captured the hearts of so many people. I am SO happy to say that one of my former fosters families is waiting to adopt him. He went from death's door to hitting the jackpot with this family."
Danielle @fostercatsandkittens
Follow Foster's updates and Danielle's foster kitties on Instagram and Facebook.
Watch Foster's rescue journey in this cute video:
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Related story: Lonely Kitten Rescued By Dog, Couldn't Stop Snuggling When Given a Foster Home