A black-footed cat born on Feb 14, was a first for Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. "Hours after his birth, Animal programs staff became concerned about the male kitten's well-being... To ensure that he had a chance for survival, staff quickly decided to intervene and handrear the kitten at the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Hospital, where he received round-the-clock care," said the zoo.

Just hours after being born:

Dr. Mike Adkesson at the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo, administers care to the kitten:

At six weeks old, the black-footed cat gets his food from a zookeeper:

His beloved penguin toy:

Photos by ©Brookfield Zoo (flickr). More photo: