Today is my birthday, and I find myself feeling overlooked and heartbroken as no one has wished me a happy birthday yet. It’s a day that typically brings joy and celebration, but instead, I’m grappling with feelings of loneliness and sadness. Each year, we hope for messages of love and appreciation, but when they don’t come, it can be incredibly disheartening.
Birthdays are often seen as a reflection of how much we are valued by those around us, and without those well-wishes, it’s easy to feel unworthy or forgotten. However, it’s important to remember that our worth isn’t defined by the attention we receive. While today may not be the joyous occasion I envisioned, I am choosing to focus on self-compassion and the things that bring me happiness. This birthday, I’m reminding myself that love comes in many forms, and sometimes it’s essential to nurture our own hearts first. Although the silence is tough to bear, I hope to turn this experience into an opportunity for growth and self-reflection, recognizing that I am deserving of joy, no matter how others may see me.
When reunited with her kittens, a cat shows them the utmost affection and care.
A pregnant stray cat was rescued from the streets in the nick of time, and brought to Oregon Friends of Shelter Animal. She was in rough shape and diagnosed with feline calicivirus.
Her condition quickly deteriorated and she was admitted to the emergency vet for a few days. Shortly after she arrived, she gave birth to a litter of kittens.
“Even though she was very sick herself, she was so caring to her kittens,” Angela Su, a foster volunteer of the shelter, told Love Meow.
The cat mom named Mocha was incredibly attentive and gave the babies her undivided attention from the start.
“When I brought Mocha and her 4-day-old kittens home to foster, she had mostly recovered but unfortunately, her kittens also had the same illness—calicivirus causes upper respiratory issues (sneezing, congestion, and discharge) and sometimes tongue ulcers.”
The odds were stacked up against the kittens as they were vulnerable at their age. Angela along with two other foster volunteers, Christy and Mads, worked as a team to provide critical care, trying everything they could to save the litter.
“The kittens were given supportive care around the clock—nebulizer treatment, tube-feeding, supplemental feedings, eyedrops, and so on,” Angela shared with Love Meow.
Despite their very best efforts to save them all, two of the four kittens sadly didn’t make it, but the remaining two, Peppermint and Cocoa, bounced back as they put up an incredible fight.
Once they were healthy enough, they were brought back to be with their mom. “These two miraculously pulled through against all odds. They are both such strong little fighters.”
Mocha was so thrilled to have her kittens back by her side. She washed their faces and toe beans, and spent her day and night nursing and caring for them as if to make up for lost time.
She showers them with love and makes sure they are fed and clean.
“Mocha is very loving and affectionate with Cocoa and Peppermint. She is always close-by and watching whenever I’m weighing or supplemental feeding her kittens,” Angela told Love Meow.
She often wraps her arms around her babies when they nap or gives them the sweetest bear hug for an extra dose of affection. “Mocha immediately checks in on her kittens whenever they cry out for her. She is seriously such a special mama cat.”
Peppermint and Cocoa are three weeks old now and are starting to find their feet and waddle.
“Their favorite things to do is rolling around on their backs or batting their paws at each other,” Angela shared with Love Meow.
“They have improved so much over the past few weeks. It was a rough start for this little family, but things are finally looking better.”
Mama Mocha is always on the sideline watching over her kittens as they reach one milestone (taking their first steps) after another (learning to play).
Before the homeowners could get her assistance, the cat wandered to their house and discovered five kittens on their porch.
A cat wandered to a house, and before homeowners could get her help, they found five kittens on their porch.
Macarena and her kittensCoastalBendCatRescue
Right before Thanksgiving, a gray cat showed up outside a house looking for help. The homeowners noticed she was heavily pregnant and made a makeshift shelter with a box and blankets to keep her warm and comfortable.
They were about to head out on vacation but couldn’t leave the cat without finding her a safe haven. A few hours after they emailed Coastal Bend Cat Rescue for help, they discovered five tiny additions nestling against the cat on their porch.
“Before we could even answer the email, the finder emailed again that she had come home from errands to a much skinnier mama and five tiny babies,” Coastal Bend Cat Rescue shared with Love Meow.
CoastalBendCatRescue
“We went over immediately to pick up the mom (Macarena) and her newborns. Mama Macarena was so happy to be safe and out of the cold.”
Macarena was petite like a kitten herself. She dove into mommy duties and worked tirelessly around the clock to keep her demanding five fed and clean.
CoastalBendCatRescue
She quickly warmed up to her foster mom and became so affectionate that she would drop everything for attention and pets.
“She took great care of the babies but always left them immediately to get scratches and cuddles when her foster mom came in the room.”
CoastalBendCatRescue
Over the following weeks, Macarena watched as her kittens, Cotton Eye Joe, Hokey Pokey, Hustle, Cha Cha Slide, and Conga, blossomed into boisterous bundles of joy.
They whirled and weaved around the place with unbridled energy, kept their mom on her toes, and swarmed their foster mom for lap snuggles.
CoastalBendCatRescue
“The babies were adorable chunky wiggle worms from the start and grew to be happy, playful, confident kittens.”
When the litter of five was weaned and became more independent, Macarena loosened her reins and devoted more time to herself and being with her people.
CoastalBendCatRescue
The rambunctious five romped around the room and bounced off furniture and each other, leaving dust bunnies in their wake and causing a playful ruckus.
“It was always a party in the foster room.”
CoastalBendCatRescue
“Cotton Eye Joe is always ready for adventure and chaos. Hokey Pokey likes to think things through and proceed at a slow and steady pace. Conga would be happy living a life where she can eat and lounge with some occasional scritches.
“Cha Cha Slide has the cutest freckles on her nose and a perky personality to match. And Hustle is a whirling dervish of tortitude, always in motion.”
CoastalBendCatRescue
When the kittens were ready to spread their wings and embark on their next adventure, Macarena was spayed and began counting down the days until she became the center of attention of a loving family.
She adores nothing more than to be with her people 24/7 and shower them with purrs and snuggles.
CoastalBendCatRescue
With the help of many volunteers from Coastal Bend Cat Rescue and The Cattery Cat Shelter, the feline family of six is off to their forever homes where they’ll be cherished and spoiled endlessly.
CoastalBendCatRescue
“They danced their way into our hearts and were so fun to have in foster care. We are so thankful that we had the resources to get this sweet family inside and warm.”
