Two house cats took four skittish kittens under their wings and taught them how to trust.
Luigi, Mario, Daisy, and PeachJennifer@newkittensontheblock
When Jennifer, a volunteer with the Humane Society for Hamilton County, heard about a litter of hissy, unsocialized kittens in need of a foster home, she didn’t think twice to help.
The four siblings were part of a group of more than 20 kittens recently brought into the shelter—frightened and not yet ready for adoption. “The sooner you can start socialization, the better, so I took them home,” Jennifer shared with Love Meow.
Once inside, the kittens refused to come out of the carrier. They huddled together, wide-eyed, too afraid to explore.
They were very scared when they arrived in foster careJennifer@newkittensontheblock
Jennifer was met with hisses whenever she approached. But she knew the way to a kitten’s heart often starts with food. She gently placed some food in the carrier and stepped back. Within seconds, all four swarmed around the dish to eat.
“It took a few days before they stopped hiding from me.”
Princess Peach found her throneJennifer@newkittensontheblock
“Food, treats, and toys helped them come out of their shells and realize they were safe. Luigi (black) and Daisy (tabby) are still a bit skittish and will sometimes shy away from me, but they continue to make progress.”
One night, Jennifer walked in to find Princess Peach (dilute tortie) perched on the scale, squeaking up a storm, while Mario (ginger) stood on his hind feet, begging for attention.
Jennifer@newkittensontheblock
With the kittens warming up, Jennifer called in the backup: her resident cats, Bodie and Bear. The friendly duo strolled into the foster room, calm and collected, while the kittens puffed up their fur, ears back, and tails fluffed.
“Luigi took the longest to let his guard down.”
Luigi, Daisy, and Mario met Bodie and Bear for the first timeJennifer@newkittensontheblock
“After the first few meetings, he decided they weren’t a threat.”
Mario, the boldest of the bunch, was the first to make a move. He crept toward Bodie, who responded with a hearty head bump. The friendly gesture caught Mario off guard but instantly won him over.
Bodie and MarioJennifer@newkittensontheblock
Soon Peach joined in, batting at Bodie’s bushy tail with glee, until Mario swooped in to claim it for himself. With the patience of a saint, Bodie took their rowdy antics in stride, letting them play with his tail and even his face.
“Bodie is the sweetest boy.”
Peach and BodieJennifer@newkittensontheblock
As their confidence grew, so did their energy. The kittens began racing around the room and scaling cat trees. Bodie often led the way to the food bowl, with Mario trotting behind, copying his every move.
“They are very playful and love to play with toys and chase and wrestle each other.”
Jennifer@newkittensontheblock
The once-feral foursome has become a lively crew. Mario and his sister, Peach, both born without tails, can often be found wrestling or pouncing on Bodie and Bear’s tails, much to everyone’s amusement.
Now, when Jennifer walks in with food, the kittens unleash a symphony of squeals, each one louder than the last, until they’re face-deep in their bowls.
Jennifer@newkittensontheblock
With a little help from their resident role models, these kittens have learned what it means to be loved and that humans can be trusted. In a few weeks, they’ll be ready to find their forever homes.
Jennifer@newkittensontheblock
Share this story with your friends. More on the kittens and Jennifer’s fosters on Instagram@newkittensontheblock and Humane Society for Hamilton County @hamiltonhumane.
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