Two kittens found tucked inside a cabinet alongside their siblings, with no mother in sight, were brought into the care of people who refused to let them down.
Turtle & RiverCredit: Penny and The Fosters
When a litter of kittens was discovered hidden inside a cabinet in someone's home, they were brought to IndyHumane without their mother, and it remained unknown where she had gone. What she had left behind told its own story.
"The kittens were clearly well cared for by their mama as they were clean and in good physical shape," their foster, Penny and The Fosters, shared with LoveMeow. She had loved them well right up until the moment they were found, and the devoted team at IndyHumane, based in Indianapolis, IN, was determined to carry that care forward.
With one foster away on a short vacation, several staff members stepped up without hesitation, each taking a kitten home to keep the tiny siblings safe and fed through those first fragile days. When their foster returned, she agreed to take in two of them. A silly little boy named River and his sweet, watchful sister Turtle came home with her, and from the very first day, the pair made it clear they intended to thrive.
RiverCredit: Penny and The Fosters
"They were incredibly easy bottle babies," Penny shared with LoveMeow. River took to the bottle with gusto, enthusiastic and eager from the start. Turtle, gentle and observant, settled in close behind him, content to take her time and let her brother lead the charge.
Together, they were easy to love and easier to root for.
Turle (left) & River (right)Credit: Penny and The Fosters
Still, their start was not entirely without bumps. Turtle arrived with a UTI and needed care and attention before anything else. Her foster kept a careful eye on her, determined to get to the bottom of it.
The likely culprit turned out to be River. Content and happy as he was, he had developed a suckling habit and had been nursing on his sister, which was almost certainly what had caused her trouble in the first place. To give them both the chance to heal properly, the two had to be separated for about a week.
TutleCredit: Penny and The Fosters
For a pair of kittens used to curling up together, the days apart felt long. But when they were finally reunited, something lovely happened. They became instant buddies. Not a bonded pair who could not bear to be apart, but fast friends who delighted in each other's company and picked up right where they had left off.
RiverCredit: Penny and The Fosters
As they grew, their personalities bloomed in wonderfully different directions. River turned out to be the talker, a silly, vocal kitten who never seemed to run out of things to say. Turtle was the quiet observer, reserved and soft, with an adorable face that made it impossible not to stop and look at her. She loved nothing more than sitting and watching her people move about the room, her big eyes taking in every detail.
What they shared was an unshakable curiosity and a love of play. Both kittens delighted in chasing toys across the floor, batting at them, pouncing, and exploring every corner within reach. Where one led, the other was rarely far behind.
Credit: Penny and The Fosters
Little by little, Turtle's UTI cleared, and River's suckling habit faded. The kittens who had begun their journey hidden away in a cabinet, separated from the mother who had given them such a strong start, found their footing in a home where every need was met and every small milestone was celebrated.
TutleCredit: Penny and The Fosters
They came in with nothing but each other. They leave with full bellies, healthy bodies, and the kind of easy confidence that comes from being raised with patience and care.
Wherever their mama is, she would be proud of them both.
Credit: Penny and The Fosters
Share this story with your friends. View more on River, Turtle, and IndyHumane on Instagram and Facebook. Follow their foster journey with Penny and The Fosters on Instagram and Facebook.
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