A family found a cat and her newborn kittens on their outdoor patio, and knew they had to help.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
A stray cat showed up in a neighborhood in Southern Texas, and made her way to a family's home. She surprised the residents with a litter of newborns on their outdoor patio.
After asking various neighbors if they had seen the cat before, no one recognized her or came to claim her. "It's almost like the cat sensed that she needed help from humans to keep her babies safe, so she found a way to make that happen," Lindsay Haglund of Coastal Bend Cat Rescue told Love Meow.
The kind family couldn't leave them without a safe shelter. When they noticed that the cat started moving her kittens underneath their house, the family stepped in and brought them inside.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
They offered the momma cat some food, water and a comfy area to keep her babies safe, and then contacted Coastal Bend Cat Rescue (a foster-based rescue in Corpus Christi, Texas), in hopes of getting the feline family the care they needed to thrive.
"They reached out to our foster-based rescue for help, securing a foster home for mama to raise her babies," Lindsay added.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
Mary, a volunteer of the rescue, welcomed them into her loving home. The cat mother named Pumpkin was a bit confused about her new digs at first, and tried to move her kittens around her foster room.
She is very protective of her little bundles of fur and keeps them safe and close at all times.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
"Foster Mom Mary had to weigh the kittens each day to make sure that everybody was staying healthy, but as soon as a baby kitten was placed on the scale, Mama Pumpkin would walk right over and pick it up gently in her mouth to move it back to her cozy nesting spot," Lindsay shared with Love Meow.
"She was very stubborn about her babies being moved! But she was so sweet and loving herself, that her antics really made our team laugh."
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
All of the kittens were extremely tiny at birth, most likely born prematurely. One of the smaller kittens (Acorn) lost his fight despite massive efforts to save him. The other three (Butternut, Patty Pan and Zucchini) pulled through and started to put on weight.
Momma Pumpkin is completely devoted to her remaining kittens and makes sure that they continue to thrive.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
Sweet Pumpkin has come out of her shell and grown to really enjoy the company of her foster family. She loves to be petted and doted on, and is no longer shy of asking for attention.
"She has turned into the sweetest house cat and our team is thrilled."
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
"She has been an amazingly dedicated mama cat to her babies, who are officially six weeks old this week! Mom and babies will be fixed after the kittens are done nursing, then placed for adoption (around Thanksgiving)," Lindsay told Love Meow.
The kittens are getting more playful each day, but they are always under the watchful eye of Momma Pumpkin.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
"Being a mama cat is a hard job, and so many female stray cats go through life giving birth to litter after litter, unless they are sterilized.
"Our team is a huge advocate for spay/neuter surgery, which improves the life and health for a cat, puts a stop to the cycle, and benefits the community."
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
Pumpkin and her adorable pumpkin patch kittens are flourishing in foster care.
The loving cat mom and her little mini-me enjoy snuggling with each other in their cozy "cave", falling asleep together.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
The feline siblings are starting to use their legs and paws to waddle and wrestle.
In the weeks that followed, the kittens will learn to be more independent as they continue to hone their feline skills.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
The tabby cat came to the right home to have her kittens. Now, they will never have to worry another day on the streets.
Coastal Bend Cat Rescue
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