They discovered how incredibly rare this tortie kitten was after saving the little one along with another cat.
Best Friends Felines
The volunteers at Best Friends Felines (a cat rescue) didn't hesitate when asked to help a litter of kittens that had been found orphaned.
In desperate need of care, they were brought to a local vet clinic, where the dedicated staff worked tirelessly to help them. "One of their nurses provided crucial initial care, ensuring they were fed, toileted, and kept warm," Best Friends Felines shared.
A tortie and a black-and-white kitten, the sole survivors of their litter, overcame every challenge and began to thrive.
MintyBest Friends Felines
Once they were stable, a foster volunteer at Best Friends Felines welcomed them into their care.
"They're feeding well, exercising their vocal cords when hungry, and spending the rest of their time curled up sleeping. They're a little on the small side for their estimated 2.5 weeks of age but are showing good progress."
MooBest Friends Felines
Since roughly 99.9% of tortie (tortoiseshell) cats are female, they assumed their new kitten was a girl. "She" arrived with a determined spirit and a lot of tortitude. "Our naughty tortie is now Minty, and our scruffy but fluffy black-and-white girl is Moo."
In just one week, they gained more than half of their body weight and were bursting with energy. "Their appetites are great, and they're thriving on bottle feeds."
Minty and Moo were found as orphaned kittensBest Friends Felines
They reached one milestone after another, and their charm truly came to life, though no one had yet realized how special the tortie was.
"Minty is always the instigator, while Moo prefers rolling around on her back, looking adorable and enticing Minty for a wrestle. Now that their ears are fully open, they recognize their carer's voice and perk up as soon as they hear it."
Minty thrives as the center of attentionBest Friends Felines
"When trying to stand or move about, their little legs are still a bit wobbly, but soon they'll be trotting around with confidence."
And so they did. Once they were big enough to zip around the house and scale every surface in sight, their personalities shone through. Minty reveled in being the center of attention, while Moo charmed everyone with her laid-back, cuddly nature.
Moo is laid-back, cuddly, and very fluffyBest Friends Felines
When the kittens were ready for their vet visit and old enough to be fixed, the team at Best Friends Felines was in for a surprising twist. "For the first time in Best Friends Felines' 10 years, we were shocked, but in a good way, with the news from one of our vets."
"We have a rare male tortie amongst our kittens. Male tortoiseshells are very rare."
Minty is, in fact, a male tortieBest Friends Felines
About one in 3,000 tortoiseshell cats is male, and these males are almost always sterile. When they heard the vet call the tortie a boy over the phone, they paused for a second and said, "Say what now?"
"That will teach us to always check and never just presume."
Roughly, one in three thousand tortoiseshell cats is maleBest Friends Felines
Minty is just as happy, playful, and affectionate as always. He brings a soothing and comforting presence to every room he enters.
Whether his humans are working, reading, or watching TV, he'll be close by, often curled up in a blanket or snuggled in their lap.
Minty and Moo have been pre-adoptedBest Friends Felines
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