Kitten, Though Mostly Fur, Has Heart of Lion, from Being Taken in Alone to Now Running the House Like a Boss

A kitten, though mostly fur, has the heart of a lion, from being taken in alone to now ruling the house like a boss.

Rani (aka Molly McBeans)Lori White

Earlier this year, a tiny kitten arrived at ARPO (Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership) in need of a bottle feeder.

The palm-sized wonder had already grown a fluffy coat and displayed an incredible will to live. Thanks to the round-the-clock care of a devoted foster volunteer, she blossomed, never short on love or attention.

She might be small, but she proved to be a mighty force, determined to grow big and strong.

ARPO

After a few weeks of bottle-feeding, the kitten, Rani, grew in size and fluff. With newfound energy and curiosity, her personality started to shine. To ensure the best socialization, she was placed in a new foster home with other kittens to play with.

“She’s 95% floof and right now has more interest in playing and exploring versus wanting to join the cuddle pile,” Lori White, a foster volunteer with ARPO, shared.

Lori White

At just 22 ounces, she was the tiniest kitten there, but her strength and zest more than made up for it. She was always ready to play and loved hopping onto her foster mom’s lap for cuddles.

She insisted on eating from the same plate as other kittens and made sure she was always part of the action.

Lori White

Over time, she developed a glorious coat that resembled a dandelion puff. Her fur seemed to burst in every direction as if held together by static electricity and sheer cattitude.

She zipped around the room, leaping onto furniture and inspecting every corner like a true detective.

Lori White

When she followed the other kittens upstairs, she discovered the perfect spot to curl up—inside a dog bowl. The bowl belonged to Ben, an eight-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, who is a gentle giant to his feline friends.

Noticing the oversized bowls, she sprang onto the stand and nestled into one, claiming it as her throne.

Lori White

“She liked it so much she fell asleep in it.”

Though the dog bowl stood taller than Rani, she was unstoppable in her quest to reach her goals. She snoozed peacefully until another kitten woke her up, eager to try the new “bed.”

Lori White

Ben, who has a soft spot for kittens, greeted the new arrivals with the gentlest sniffs. Rani, the tiniest of them all, strutted up to him as if she were in charge, rubbing against Ben before flopping down on him.

“This little moment between Rani and Ben just melted my heart.”

Ben and RaniLori White

Rani wanted to be the boss among her feline friends, but she was especially drawn to the dogs who towered over her. She was constantly on the move, wearing out other kittens with her unbridled energy.

When she was finally big enough for adoption, Lori and her team hoped to find her a loving home with a cat-friendly canine companion.

Lori White

Last week, Rani’s dream came true. “I just knew there was a perfect home out there for her that had a dog she could love and would love her back.”

The kitten, now named Molly McBeans, has bonded with her canine buddy, Ludo. “She’s such a joy. They have decided to gang up against us and spread all their toys across the living room anytime we’re both not home,” the adopter shared.

Rani (now Molly) and LudoARPO

“I thought it might take her a few days to warm up to a new environment and to our dog—it took her one afternoon. She came in and owned the place. She has multiple napping spots but goes to bed next to me every night.”

In Molly’s eyes, whatever belongs to Ludo belongs to her, too. They have grown inseparable, spending every day together, side by side.

Lori White