A cat who raised her only kitten and helped three orphaned babies, now hopes for a place of her own.

Earlier this year, a stray cat and her kitten were brought to the Nashville Cat Rescue (an all-volunteer rescue in Nashville, Tennessee) after they were picked up from the streets.

The orange cat, around one year old, wrapped her only baby in her arms, trying to keep him safe. Nisa Konuma, a volunteer of the rescue, stepped in to foster them when she learned that they needed a place to stay.

The cat mom, Bailey, was shy but thankful to have a roof over their heads and a warm bed to nestle in with her kitten. The little singleton named Whiskey clung to his mom, nursing away.

The sweet cat mom slowly came out of her shell and began to relax when she realized that her foster family meant good.

A few days later, the kitten's eyes cleared up and opened wide. He became more energetic and started to put his little legs to good use. Mama Bailey watched him as he ventured out of the nest, waddling about.

Around that time, three orphaned kittens came to the rescue for a chance at a better life. They were in desperate need of foster care, so Nisa brought them home and hoped that Mama Bailey would accept them.

The sweet cat mom took them in and started caring for them along with her own. She tried to nurse them all while still adjusting to indoor life. After a couple of days, it became clear that Bailey needed some help.

Nisa began bottle feeding the orphaned kittens around the clock to take some load off the cat mom. With Nisa's help, Bailey could focus on nursing her own baby and helping him thrive.

They worked as a team to care for all four little bundles of fluff. Whiskey took to her new siblings and was so thrilled to have friends to play with.

As the kittens grew bigger and more playful, mama Bailey spent more time relaxing on her own and getting some much-needed snuggles from her foster family.

"She is such a sweetie and loves to be loved on and is so graceful," Nisa said.

Bailey taught the kittens how to be a cat at night while everyone else was asleep. She passed all of her feline skills onto them and prepped them for their coming of age.

When the kittens were big enough for adoption, they were quickly snatched up by good families. One after another, they went to their forever homes. Bailey officially retired from motherhood and hoped that her loving family would soon come through the door.

Bailey enjoys "helping" her foster mom with work and playing with the resident cats. She's so happy to be in a safe home away from the outdoor elements and is getting more confident each day.

"She is a head bumper and lover of belly rubs. While shy at first, once she knows you are a friend, she will be a fun companion who will play like a little kitten," Nashville Cat Rescue shared with Love Meow.

"Retired mama cats are some of the best cats around. It's like, once they wean their kittens and get spayed, they decide this is mama's time to shine and throw their love at you unapologetically, and let themselves be babied for a change."

Every day, Bailey hopes for that perfect family to find her and take her home. She is a sweet cat who just needs a bit of understanding and patience.

"She will need a family that can give her time to come out of her shell as she is very shy. When she does come out of her shell you will catch her playing like a little kitten."

It's now mama's time to shine!

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