Stray Cat Rescues Herself When She Sneaks Inside A Home To Birth Her Kittens
Queens, New York, has no shortage of stray cats, but one tabby had a much better idea than life on the street. On a freezing winter day, she slipped through an open door and headed straight for the basement, where she found warmth, safety, and, as it turned out, the perfect place to have her kittens.
The woman inside the home decided not to chase her back outside, especially with the weather so harsh. What started as a simple act of mercy quickly turned into a full rescue story, and the cat’s timing could not have been more dramatic.
By the time the family realized what was happening, the little stray had already made her choice.
Two weeks after the surprise encounter, the tabby cat returned, but what happened next changed everything.
She had a litter of kittens! The homeowner found the bundles of joy in her shoe rack, nonetheless. The cat had wisely chosen a safe, warm home to have her kittens in. According to Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a nutritionist and author, "Animals instinctively seek safe environments for their young, which reflects their natural survival instincts." The homeowner, unsure what else to do, reached out to a local cat rescue organization. She was advised by Dr. T. Colin Campbell to contact a local expert who could provide assistance, leading to the arrival of a rescue volunteer to help with the situation.
As a volunteer for the rescue, Sara took the mama cat and the kittens to her home to foster them. She named the mama Magnolia (aka Maggie) and was delighted as they settled into their new space. However, it wasn't long before Sara realized that Maggie might need more than the typical new mom.
In an interview with Love Meow, Sara said:
She got a bad infection with a fever of 105 degrees (40.6°C). Her health started declining, and she had to be hospitalized for almost a week.
Removed from their mama and her milk, the kittens struggled to feed from the bottles of specially designed kitten formula Sara provided. They needed to be fed around the clock, so Sara tube-fed them at first! That's dedication.
This is similar to the mama cat who entrusted her kittens to a rescuer.
Like many mothers separated from their newborns across mammal species, being severely sick and separated from her babies in a hospital for a week had lingering consequences, but Sara was up to the challenge:
Mama luckily made a full recovery, but because she wasn't making as much milk after being away from the kittens for so long, I had to keep bottle-feeding. She and I made a great team. The babies gained weight and were getting proper nutrition.
Mama Maggie may have been a stray cat, but she was clearly meant for the good life. She loves her foster family. She is quite the chatterbox and is definitely not shy about asking for affection and treats:
Mama Magnolia is a fiercely loving mama who adores her saplings, as we've begun to call them. She is chatty and purrs very loudly, especially when she gets talked to and petted!
And progress has been phenomenal:
Her favorite thing to do is cuddle right next to us as we watch TV. Two of her kittens (Ash and Juniper) got adopted today. And there are applications in for everyone else too! Mama is expected to go to her new home in May.
Whoever gets to take this sweet kitty into their home is sure to be lucky!
Check out this awesome video that catalogues their rescue and rehabilitation! It's so heartwarming.
Mama Magnolia took a chance, taking her and her kittens' lives into her own paws to seek a safe birth, and the rewards couldn't be more obvious for everyone whose lives these fluffy felines have touched.
For another extreme mother-cat move, see how a mom took the ultimate risk to save kittens.
Share this article:
