A lovely lady in rural Indiana found a tiny surprise in her barn early morning last month.
The woman was doing the dishes when she heard a shriek from the barn. She investigated the noise and discovered a little kitten, maybe ten days old, sleeping on the hard concrete floor in the corner.
In an attempt to warm the delicate tiny body, the nice woman hastily gathered some straw and placed it on the kitten. The mother cat never returned after a few hours, and no further kittens were discovered nearby. The lady decided to act when she noticed the cat was becoming chilly.
She brought the fluffy baby into the house and tried to feed it as best she could, but the kitten was having a hard time eating. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the woman contacted volunteers from the non-profit association Catsnip Etc and asked for help.
“We received the kitten slightly dehydrated, thirsty, and suffering from fleas,” says volunteer Missy MacNeil.
Cricket, a newborn, eventually grasped a pacifier and began to drink healthy infant formula from a bottle, thanks to the efforts of an experienced nurse. Cricket brightened up and grinned with delight as they fed her and cleaned away the pesky fleas.
That evening, the girl fell asleep in a warm, comfy bed with a soft teddy bear at her side.
After spending a couple of days under care, baby Cricket completely recovered, began to eat well and gain weight. From day one, she craved attention and was vocal about her desires.
She wants the teddy bear to stay around 24/7. When the foster mom is not around, she cuddles up to a plush friend and naps, wrapping her paws around him.
“She adores her stuffed animal. “He’s been with her since the day she was rescued,” Missy explains.
“A hug and a sense of security are provided by the teddy bear.”
Cricket, like other bottle-fed kittens, requires constant human attention. In the absence of a foster mother, the teddy bear has become her favorite buddy, with whom she may embrace.
When it came time for the vaccinations, the girl refused to leave her toy companion at home and clung to him the entire time. She was able to manage this new experience more readily since she felt safe.
“She is super sweet and loving. She loves to bask with her foster mother in moments of fatigue and frolic with her when she wakes up. All she wants is to be among people,” says Missy.
But even while spending time with people, she does not forget about her plush friend and demands that he be there.
Cricket has reached the point in his development where the character emerges, and the excitement is building day by day.
“She’s becoming more agitated and enjoys running about and playing.” “It opens up a whole new universe of entertaining toys.”
The small kitten has grown into a magnificent panther, yet in some respects, it has remained unchanged.
Cricket’s teddy bear and she are inseparable. The prospective owners will take them both home when she is ready for adoption.
