This Adorable Kitten Power Duo Will Steal Your Heart - Meet Spinach & Chickpea
Each year, around 6.5 million pets visit animal shelters in the United States. Every day, over 5,500 animals are killed in shelters due to overpopulation and a lack of resources.
Fostering pets is not only a lovely experience, but it also helps keep pets alive. Foster homes provide animals in need with a temporary home while they wait for their forever homes.
Foster homes aid in socialization, address behavioral issues, and prepare dogs for adoption. Fostering a pet can assist with feeding, grooming, health checks, immunizations, and transportation to veterinary appointments.
When you choose to foster a pet, you are adopting an animal who might otherwise end up in a shelter. By being their temporary home, you can provide a safe environment for them until they find their forever home.
Hannah Shaw, also known as the Kitten Lady, rescues and fosters kittens, documenting their progress on her Instagram feed. It's no surprise that Shaw has over 1 million Instagram followers, thanks to photographs of adorable cats like Chickpea and Spinach.
While her foster kittens are undeniably cute, the goal of each post is to raise awareness for kittens in need. Spinach and Chickpea were both neonatal kittens when they came into Hannah's care, and they both had medical difficulties, making them particularly special in their needs.
Let's get to know them better:
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.
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.
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."
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