This adorable orange kitten jumps over the fence to join a litter of smaller kittens and decides to help take care of them.
Shelbi Uyehara, founder of Jin Bottle Babies, a rescue center for kittens in Arizona, USA, moved into her new home and they noticed a nearby house that apparently had many cats hanging around. Shelbi immediately contacted the owner of the house, so he could find out more about the cats in the neighborhood, neuter and neuter them, and provide them with the medical attention they needed.
As the couple renovated their home, a kitten started visiting their driveway and surrounding area. Apparently, she had just given birth to a litter of kittens in the front yard of the house next door.
Shelbi told Love Meow:
There were 30-40 cats to take care of and some cats were pregnant.
A kitten jumps over the fence to join a litter of smaller kittens
For Shelbi, it was unusual to see a breastfeeding mother spend so much time away from her newborn babies. Around the same time, Shelbi learned of another orange kitten named Red, who allegedly came from a separate bunk bed in the garden. When the tabby heard the cries of the new kittens, he jumped over the fence and decided to join the group.
Shelbi says:
Red was jumping after them, playing with their tails.
When they realized the mother had stopped feeding her babies, they decided to intervene. The kittens were crying from hunger and missing their mother, but luckily Red came running to them.
Everything seems to indicate that Red had been with the babies since the day he climbed the fence. When Shelbi picked up the litter, she immediately knew Red had to come home with them.
Sheby added:
We finished our house as quickly as possible, so we could move them. When our house was ready enough, we had a place for Red and the four black kittens to enter. I couldn’t let her stay outside without them.
The kittens had crusty eyes and were very underweight, but after 24 hours of care they finally had full bellies, were clean and looked much better, now resting in a warm bed.
Meanwhile, Red continued to care for the smaller named kittens: Coral, Mamba, King and Viper; teach them how to play and take care of themselves when they nap.
Jen, a volunteer at the rescue center, took on the task of raising the felines while they continued their process and found forever homes. Quickly, she was accepted by the sweet ginger cat and her hugs.
Jen shared:
He just wants love and follows me around the room as I clean up, rubbing my legs. And he’s so cute with babies.
So far, 36 neighborhood cats, including the mother of the kittens, have been neutered and neutered thanks to the support of the rescue center and the community.
Shelby says:
It makes me feel like this is the house we were meant to buy and it makes me feel like we really are home and where we are meant to be.
Finally, Shelbi said:
These five are so happy to be indoor kittens. For being an older cat in his (feline) teenage years, Red is an angel child. You’d think their big age difference would be a problem, but Red is so happy to hang out with his boyfriends. It really is a nice, sweet and unique thing to watch.
Images: Instagram / jinsbottlebabies