This Adorable Kitten Power Duo Will Steal Your Heart - Meet Spinach & Chickpea
Spinach and Chickpea are the kind of foster kittens that make people stop scrolling. Both arrived in Hannah Shaw’s care with serious medical issues, and both needed far more than a cute photo to get through it.
Shaw, known online as the Kitten Lady, has built a huge following by sharing the realities of neonatal kitten rescue, including the messy, emotional parts. In this case, that meant surgery, round-the-clock care, and two tiny cats who quickly became inseparable.
Their story starts with a medical scare, but it ends with something much sweeter.
Meet Spinach and Chickpea
Hannah took in Iron-girl Spinach, a 3-week-old kitten who was in danger. Hannah revealed the kitten's medical emergency on Instagram:
“Her breastbone is misshapen and pressing inwards, limiting the space for her heart and lungs to grow.” But that wasn’t the most pressing issue.
“She also has a detached segment of her sternum that is sharp, freely floating… and pointed towards her vital organs.”
The tiny cat underwent surgery to save her life.
“For the coming weeks, Spinach will wear a plastic chest plate, which is stitched to the outside of her chest through her ribs. This will allow her ribs to expand and grow into the correct shape and will help the detached bone grow into the right position.”
Spinach is thriving under Hannah's care, despite her specially fitted gear.
Spinach had surgery on her breastbone
And had to wear a plastic chest plate
But now she is healthy and thriving
Chickpea had a respiratory infection and a congenital medical condition
Chickpea, a cute tuxedo chunk, found Hannah as “a hot mess kitten” with a respiratory infection and a congenital medical condition, “a class 2 malocclusion (aka severe overbite).”
Her issue may not be readily apparent, but it could have hampered Chickpea's ability to nurse. "If the teeth come in and puncture the palate," Hannah warned, "this can lead to issues later on."
Both girls have grown strong and healthy during their time with the Kitten Lady, thanks to Hannah's careful attention to detail and the dedicated medical staff.
It also brings to mind two sister cats who stuck together through two adoptions during their first owner’s hospice care.
That tiny overbite came with a bigger risk than it first looked like.
She is healthy now
And the adorable duo found a home - together
They will be so happy
Spinach and Chickpea have become best friends and sisters throughout their time with Hannah. When it was time for them to find their forever home, they wanted to go together.
Their wish has been fulfilled - they found a loving home where they can grow up together. We know they will be happy.
Some foster bonds are too strong to split up.
Thanks to this lady
Hannah devoted her life to saving cats. But how did it all begin?
She heard a cat howling for help in a tree during a work outing over a decade ago, and knowing she had to assist, she climbed the tree to rescue the fluffy infant. After she saved her and decided to take her in, she discovered that resources were limited.
She and Coco were on their own for the most part. Since then, Hannah and Coco have blazed a trail for kittens, sharing invaluable information on how to save "the most vulnerable felines."
It all started with one rescue, and it never really stopped.
Want another rescue story, see how Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton saved a near-dead kitten.
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