A kitten who was found outside by herself, took to two other orphans and showered them with hugs.
A tiny grey kitten was found outside all alone, and just skin and bones. She was immediately placed in a foster home with a nursing cat mom, who sadly wouldn’t accept the new baby.
Penny Richards, volunteer of Animal Welfare League of Arlington and the AWLA’s Kitten College Program, took the tiny ball of fur on herself and started caring for her around the clock.
“She was a skeleton surrounded by fluff. At about three weeks old, she weighed what a healthy one week old would,” Penny told us. “She looked plump as she was very fluffy, but on holding her you could feel every bone in her body sticking out.”
Despite being a bit malnourished upon intake, the kitten was vocal and purring nonstop. She didn’t have enough strength to latch, so Penny slowly filled her belly through tube-feeding and got her weight up.
After two days of painstaking care, the kitten perked up with new-found energy. She made everyone so proud when she finally latched onto her bottle and started eating.
The kitten was adamant about never being alone again, and would cry constantly until she had a companion by her side.
“The day after I got her, two boys (little panther kitties) came in. I placed them with her and she immediately felt comforted,” Penny shared with us.
“She instantly loved her new brothers and she no longer cried all day. She would cuddle them as they slept.”
The trio were then officially named Cruz (grey), Diego and Frankie. Cruz took her little brothers under her wing, followed them around and cuddled them in their comfy nest.
Despite being one week younger, the brothers were bigger in weight than their new sister. “One of them is a real chonk, weighing in about 65 grams more than our grey girl,” Penny wrote.
“As she’s about a week older than her brothers, Cruz has reached the playful wrestling stage while the boys haven’t yet, and they aren’t quite sure what to make of it.”
With proper care, good food, and lots of TLC, Cruz overcame some stomach issues and turned a huge corner.
Her weight is on a steady rise, and she’s starting to catch up to her little brothers.
“When we get a kitten come in as a solo, there’s nothing better than seeing the love pour out once you give her some friends.”
“Cruz is the sweetest little thing, with the most energetic and fun soul,” Penny shared with us.
“She bounces around their pen playing with her brothers, and is a very enthusiastic eater. She no longer struggles to latch and is now so excited for meal times.”
“She’s a feisty one with a loud meow, and a purr that’s to die for. As soon as you touch her, her little motor starts.”
Cruz has turned into quite the love-bug. Not only does she adore her feline brothers, but also she is a people-cat. “She will sit on my lap all day if I let her.”
