Seven tiny kittens were pulled out of an animal shelter and into a new chapter full of joy and adventures.
When Penny Richards, an experienced fosterer for Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA), was contacted about seven kittens needing a bottle feeder, she jumped at the chance.
The kittens had been brought to an animal shelter and needed urgent placement by the end of the day. AWLA immediately agreed to take them. With the help of their rescue partner, all seven kittens were safely transported into foster care.
“When they arrived, I could tell they were no more than 24 hours old – perhaps even a bit younger,” Penny shared with Love Meow.
No one knows what happened to the mother cat, but the first 24 hours after birth are crucial for newborn kittens to receive their mother’s first milk, which is essential for strengthening their immune systems.
In the absence of their mom, Penny supplemented the kittens with colostrum.
“Thankfully, they came in quite good shape and a good weight for newborns despite being incredibly small (with the runt weighing only 67 grams). They took very tiny meals for the first couple of days until they began to grow.”
A few days later, three of the kittens started having stomach troubles. At such a tender age, orphaned kittens are vulnerable to any ailments.
Penny provided the trio with medication and round-the-clock supportive care. In two days, their issues subsided, their appetites returned, and they were back on track with the rest of the crew.
“I felt so relieved. They were thriving, and it was clear that all seven were okay now. They were very much into eating and had a really strong will to live.”
Upon arrival, Lucy, a beautiful dilute calico, was the biggest of the bunch, while David, a cream kitten, was the smallest but was working the hardest to catch up.
By the end of the first week, he nearly doubled in size, and there was no stopping him.
Edgar, a cow tabby, promptly fell into a food coma after each meal. He conked out in place, with his little tongue still curled.
By week two, all seven kittens had their eyes open and were growing at lightning speed. “From the moment they arrived, their favorite thing to do was roll over as soon as they finished eating and wave all four legs in the air.”
The clowder flopped on their backs, wiggling their limbs around as if they were swimming. “It was the funniest and cutest thing I have seen.”
As they became stronger and more coordinated, their curiosity about the world beyond the incubator multiplied. “Edgar always sat at the door of the incubator as if he was looking out when I was feeding the others.
“Star, Alan, and Lucy were always attempting to escape and were quickly joined by the rest of the gang, as they all took every chance they could get to climb out of the incubator when it was opened.”
As their vision and hearing continued developing, they became more active and adventurous. The moment they smelled food, they piled out of their nest like roly-polies.
When the seven outgrew their incubator, they were upgraded into a playpen with all the amenities.
Their appetites have grown more ravenous than ever, and they all sport rotund bellies. “Now, at four weeks old, they have started to play with each other, and they love to roll around on their backs as they slowly bite each other and wrestle.”
Sam is fascinated by the notebook Penny uses to record their weights and growth and often offers a helping paw.
“As soon as they have each finished their meal, they purr loudly as they climb up for a cuddle with me. I can already tell they will be a very loving and cuddly group.”
“Alan, Edgar, and Lucy are expert biscuit makers and have been practicing since they were tiny.”
