While a woman fostered two tiny kittens, this cat offered to help in an unexpectedly adorable way.
Molly@nyfosterkittens
When Molly learned that two orphaned kittens at the SPCA of Tompkins County needed a temporary fosterer, she didn’t hesitate to take them in.
“I was excited to have bottle babies for the first time in a long time,” Molly shared. A few hours after she brought them home, the shelter called about a mother cat who had arrived without kittens and whose past was unknown.
When Delilah, the young mom, was rescued, she was scrawny and still just a kitten herself.
Molly@nyfosterkittens
Since Delilah was producing milk, the shelter asked Molly if she could introduce her to the kittens to see if she would accept them. “I drove back to the shelter and picked her up.”
Though a bit confused by the new surroundings, Delilah was friendly and absolutely ravenous. She didn’t pay attention to the kittens and instead made a beeline for the food, devouring an entire can in one go. Within two hours, she happily polished off two tube treats and two more cans.
DelilahMolly@nyfosterkittens
The kittens slept soundly while Delilah busied herself filling her belly. When she finally noticed them, it was clear that nurturing kittens wasn’t on her agenda. Molly gave her more time, hoping her motherly instincts would eventually kick in, but they never did.
“She shows no interest in mothering them, and that’s okay.”
Molly@nyfosterkittens
While Molly bottle-fed the kittens around the clock, Delilah stayed close. She spent some time gazing out the window, but she never strayed far from her foster mom. In a manner Molly never anticipated, Delilah found her own way to be helpful.
“I decided to sleep in the foster room so as not to wake up my husband every time my alarm goes off to feed the kittens.”
Molly@nyfosterkittens
“Look who hopped right into bed with me.” Delilah nestled into Molly’s arms as if she’d been waiting for this all day.
Soon, she drifted off to sleep, feeling perfectly content. “I had to carefully extricate myself from the bed to feed the kittens while Delilah got some well-deserved sleep. Even when the kittens mewed, Delilah didn’t open an eye.”
Molly@nyfosterkittens
“I bottle-fed the kittens, and whenever I wasn’t busy with them, I gave Delilah all the attention she deserved. As soon as I crawled into bed, she flopped herself down in the crook of my neck and cuddled up to me. She slept beside me all night.”
The next day, Delilah continued her cuddling streak, leaping straight into Molly’s arms as soon as the kittens were fed.
Molly@nyfosterkittens
Though she didn’t take on the role of mothering the kittens, she supported her foster mom with cuddles and purrs. As Molly tried to rest for a couple of hours before the next feeding, Delilah curled up next to her, purring the sweetest lullaby.
“She would be a perfect work-from-home companion as she just wants to spend as much time with her humans as possible.”
Molly@nyfosterkittens
After everything Delilah had been through before entering foster care, she could finally focus on herself, growing stronger and healthier each day.
Though Delilah’s time with Molly was brief, she filled those days with immeasurable joy, making those sleepless nights much easier. When the time came for her adoption, a loving family had been counting down the days to bring her home.
Molly@nyfosterkittens
Within an hour, she was adopted from the shelter and on her way to her dream home. Meanwhile, the two kittens, Dante and Tristan, continued to flourish in foster care, growing by leaps and bounds.
Delilah didn’t end up nursing the orphaned kittens, but she found the sweetest way to help by showering her foster mom with endless affection.
Molly@nyfosterkittens
Share this story with your friends. More on Molly’s fosters on Instagram@nyfosterkittens. More on the SPCA of Tompkins County @spcaoftompkinscounty.
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