A cat came right over to a lone kitten, took him by the paw and began to raise him along with her own.
A kitten named Pluto was brought in to Dorset Rescue Kittens after his mom fell sick and stopped caring for him and his siblings. Pluto was the only survivor of his litter and showed incredible fight in such a tiny body.
"He was critical when we got him. He hadn't fed from his mom in at least 24 hours, likely longer," Cailey Seymour, the founder of Dorset Rescue Kittens, told Love Meow.
"He had to be placed in an incubator with oxygen support and slowly rewarmed and rehydrated before we could feed him anything."
Pluto was given food and cared for every hour for the first night. He eventually got his strength back and perked up.
"We didn't know if he was going to make it and were preparing ourselves for the worst, considering none of his siblings survived," Cailey shared with Love Meow. "It took about five days before we felt he was on the road to recovery. He started gaining weight and eating really well."
Baby Pluto became bright and alert, and started moving his legs around, trying to play. Despite getting constant attention from his people and having many snuggle toys to keep him company, something was missing—Pluto really missed having a mom and littermates.
A week after Pluto's arrival, a feline family of six (a one-year-old cat named Bib and her five 3-week-old kittens) came into Cailey's care after they were rescued from outdoor life. Her kittens were about the same age as Pluto and they all looked alike.
"When we got mama Bib, I knew it would be a good move to see if she would accept Pluto," Cailey told Love Meow.
After adjusting to the new environment, Bib came out of her shell, grew more comfortable around her surroundings, and began to really enjoy pets and snuggles from her humans.
When it was time, Cailey wrapped baby Pluto in a blanket, placed him in front of momma Bib, while she anxiously waited for her response. Without hesitation, Bib came right over to the lone kitten and started tending to him.
"She didn't even second guess it. She started grooming him and nuzzling him towards her own babies as though she knew he needed her. She has been so accepting of him—it made me cry," Cailey told Love Meow.
Watch Pluto and Momma Bib in this cute video:
Baby Pluto instantly took to his new mom and melted into her arms.
"We put him in with the other babies so that he stays warm and can play with them. We are still supplementing him with kitten milk replacement as that is what he is used to, but it is so beautiful to see him with a family."
Pluto is still a bottle kitten but he thoroughly enjoys being snuggled by his siblings and doting mom.
Momma Bib never questioned a thing when she first met Pluto, and has been cleaning and snuggling with him even more so than her own kittens.
"She usually cuddles him while her babies nurse," Cailey shared.
"Nothing compares to the care a mama cat can provide or the socialization a kitten gets when raised with kitten siblings," Cailey shared with Love Meow.
"Pluto is already playing with them and talking to mama as though he has known her his entire life."
"We will continue to bottle feed Pluto as needed and keep a close eye on him, but for now, I can put away his stuffies and heating pad, because he has been granted the privilege of mama cuddles and kitten snuggles."
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