A cat got her 8 kittens inside a home after spending her whole life outdoors.
A tortoiseshell cat, Celeste, came to Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals, after having litter after litter outside. She was found covered in fleas and heavily pregnant.
"Celeste had lived outside for her entire life before she came to me. For the majority of her life, she'd always been a mama cat even till the point that she got sick," Angela, a foster volunteer, shared with Love Meow. "She came to the animal shelter with her three month old kittens while also being pregnant herself."
A few days later, the tortie gave birth to a large litter of kittens. Angela brought them home to foster, and Celeste officially bid farewell to life on the streets.
Celeste was a bit shy at first when she arrived in foster care, trying to adjust to indoor life as many things were brand new to her.
With good food, a warm nest, and lots of head scritches, Celeste warmed up to her humans and even rubbed her face on her foster mom, wanting more attention and pets.
For the first time in her life, her kittens got to grow up inside a comfortable home, away from the elements of the outdoors.
The kittens kept their mom very busy, day and night, so Angela came in to make sure that Celeste was replenished, and offer any assistance to help alleviate the workload.
"Being a mother of eight was really hard work. She was such a wonderful, loving mom to her babies," Angela told Love Meow.
Celeste kept her kittens clean and groomed them from head to toe. She would lie on her side for as long as needed, so everyone got to nurse plentifully.
The kittens were growing by leaps and bounds. As they became more playful and adventurous, they started spending more time venturing outside the nest.
Celeste watched her kittens every step of the way, and came running whenever she heard her babies cry. She gently licked their faces and tended to their every need.
Very demanding kittens:
"Now that her kittens were more independent, Celeste was finally able to have some time to relax and just be a cat herself. She loved to soak up and lay in the sun, quietly greeting me each morning and leaning into my pets," Angela shared.
When the kittens reached 10 weeks of age and two pounds in weight, Celeste was beaming with pride and ready to retire from motherhood for good.
"She has been the absolute best mama to her kittens and she is so deserving of a forever home of her own where she can be the center of attention."
"She is the perfect kitty to chill and relax with. She will cuddle up and sleep right next to you, and follow you around quietly like your little shadow, brushing against your legs or hands whenever she wants pets and snuggles," Angela said.
Nearly three months after Celeste was pulled from the streets, her dream came true as she moved into her forever home.
"Celeste's adopters are such wonderful and loving people. She even has a new cat sister named Marge."
Seven out of the eight kittens survived, grew up to be healthy, rambunctious young cats, and found their way into good homes. "Their families are all so sweet, and the kittens are going to be very happy and loved!"
No more pregnancies or wandering the streets for food and shelter as Celeste is living the VIP life she always wanted.
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