Four kittens moved into a home for the first time. One was half the size she should have been, but she kept pushing.
RyeTracey
A feral cat gave birth to four kittens and desperately needed a safe place. Volunteers from Cat Tales, an animal rescue, quickly stepped in to bring the family to safety.
They prepared a quiet place for the wild mother where she could comfortably care for her young. With plenty of food and every comfort, the kittens began to grow, safe from the harsh outdoor elements.
“About six weeks in, it was noticed that the kittens were quite small,” Tracey, an experienced carer at Cat Tales, told Love Meow.
Pumpkin, rye and croutonTracey
The rescue entrusted the kittens to Tracey to give them supplemental feeding. The wild mother was paid and officially retired from motherhood.
The little clown of four fits into a bed with extra space to spare. “The kittens were small and Rye was the young one.”
Rye is the round of the litterTracey
“The first two weeks were touch and go. Rye and her sister, Crouton, needed additional feeding support.”
At six weeks old, Rye was no bigger than a two to three week old kitten. Eating and gaining weight was a challenge for the little one who could not afford to lose just a few grams. Her sister, Crouton, was also fighting for her life right next to her.
From top to bottom: Sourdough, Crouton, Pumpernickel and RyeTracey
Tracey injected the kittens that needed extra help and provided round-the-clock care to make sure they all got over the hump.
Her painstaking efforts paid off as Rye and Crouton returned and emerged from their beds one day with renewed energy. Despite his small stature, Rye had a fierce spirit and was determined to live life to the fullest.
Tracey
Rye snuggled into a soft blanket with her foster mom, soaking up the affection and gentle caresses.
Her small body makes her ears seem adorably oversized, just like Yoda’s. She is a force to be reckoned with. “She’s so small and fragile, but keeps driving trucks. I expect her to catch up. She has such a zest for life.”
Pumpernickel, the only boy, has a pair of bat earsTracey
Pumpernickel, the tuxedo, is the only boy in the litter. He lets his sisters wrestle with him and nip his whiskers without protest. All he seeks is affection from both humans and his feline family.
As soon as he snuggles up with his foster mom, he melts into a blissful puddle as if nothing else matters. “Pumpernickel is the love bug of the group. He’s gentle and sweet.”
Rye is small but mightyTracey
“Sourdough is the loudest. She tells everyone she wants to be picked up. Crouton is so strong. She was wasting away but fighting to live. She was syringe fed until she started to get better and eat on her own.”
“Rye is a little peep. Quiet and small but mighty. She’s adorable and doesn’t complain at all. Their favorite thing to do is climb on everyone who sits with them and hunger for love and scratches.”
Rye and CroutonsTracey
Slowly but surely, Rye grows into her radar ears. From the sofa she looks up at her people, her ears turning to their voices. She listens attentively and charms everyone in sight.
They thrive in foster homes and finally make steady gains and become more active every day.
Tracey
Rye and her siblings adore their human companions, always curled up on their laps and ready for the adventures life will bring.
Tracey
Share this story with your friends. More about the kitties and Tracey’s fosters on Instagram @sweet_foster_kitties and Cat Tales @cattalesinc.
Related story: Kitten shows everyone she’s perfect and wants to be held all day when she arrives at an animal rescue
