A stray cat who was rescued from a difficult situation, is so happy to be reunited with her kittens.
A stray cat was brought to Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control in early April. She was rescued from being attacked by other animals.
Shelter staff quickly noticed that the tabby was not a lone stray. "She had all the signs of being a nursing mother, but her kittens could not be found," a volunteer of the shelter shared with Love Meow. They immediately notified the neighbors to be on the lookout.
Later that week, neighbors heard meowing in the insulation of a mobile home and discovered five kittens. Mindy Brocato, a staff member of the shelter, rushed to get them. Once the kittens arrived at the shelter, they were brought to be reunited with their mom (named Toodles).
As soon as Toodles heard the tiny squeaks, she perked up and started to look around. They placed a ginger kitten in her bed, and after a few sniffs, Mama meowed and licked the crying kitten as if to try to comfort him.
One by one, the kittens amped up their meows as they recognized their mom's scent, and nuzzled right into her arms. Toodles lay down on the bed and was ready to nurse. In just a few seconds, the kittens lined up at the milk bar, suckling away while Mama Toodles doted on them with licks and purrs.
Watch this heart-warming reunion in this video:
Just as they thought they had completed the rescue for this little family, the shelter got a surprising call that evening. "A sixth kitten was discovered screaming for her mom under the same mobile home where the first five were located," the shelter said.
When they got the last baby and reunited her with the rest of the family, she dove right in for a meal at the milk-bar. "Toodles seemed much more relaxed that this new baby arrived."
"Toodles and her babies are thriving, thanks in no small part to her attentive and experienced foster (family)," the shelter said.
The loving cat mom is glad to get some help for her babies who had trouble gaining weight. With supplemental feedings, the kittens have grown by leaps and bounds. "Together, the foster and Toodles are raising some mighty fine-looking and happy little ones."
The kittens are about eight weeks old now and will soon be ready for their next adventure in life — their forever homes! "The first application the shelter got was for Toodles and the 6th kitten, Percy. How great is that to have the mom selected first for once," the shelter told Love Meow.
"This especially warms our hearts, as so often the mom cat is the last to find a permanent home."
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Related story: Stray Cat Comes Back to Find Her Kittens Who Were Brought to the Shelter