A stray cat was unable to locate a warm spot to give birth when she was ready, so she made do with any shelter she could find.
Tasha Bukovnik, vice president of VOKRA (Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association), told The Dodo that Calida did her hardest to locate a warm spot to give birth but was only able to find an outside laundry room with a chilly concrete floor. The mother cat was accepted into the rescue last week.
Vancouver has been bitterly cold. Because of exposure, four of Calida’s five kittens passed away right after they were born. “All the kittens were healthy and would have lived had Calida been able to give birth in a warm environment,” Bukovnik said.
But one tiny kitten was still alive.
Calida and her last kitten waited in that cold laundry room for someone to find them. Calida knew she had to keep her last baby warm, so she covered the tiny kitten with her own body.
Finally, the homeowner found the small family and made a call for assistance.
VOKRA volunteers sprung into action to rescue the small family and bring them into the rescue facility for immediate care. To ensure Calida and her kitten’s survival, they sped through the ice roads.
When Calida came, she was starving. She devoured food before taking a nap and tending to her cat, who was by then named Sentrie.
Sentrie is a plump youngster, while Calida is on the lean side and always hungry, according to Bukovnik.
Rescuers’ interactions with the Calida led them to believe that she was formerly a pet that had been abandoned. She’s obviously a domestic cat, said Bukovnik.
As Calida and Sentrie grow stronger and bond, rescuers hope that the passing of Calida’s other kittens will encourage people to get their pets spayed and neutered to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Despite a difficult beginning, the young family’s future appears promising. In the upcoming days, we intend to place children in foster care, according to Bukovnik.
When they are healthy enough, they will be allowed to recover in a family environment before being placed up for adoption together.
