A stray cat, who was pregnant and covered in fleas, was brought to an animal shelter in California. The cat was starving and needed attention. Thankfully, she was soon taken in by the Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals, who arranged a foster family for her.
Angela Su, a volunteer with the shelter, began treating the cat for fleas and ticks and named her Iris. The cat purred, very happy to be safe and off the street.
“We thought the kittens would be born next week, based on what the shelter told us. But a few hours after my mom visited and calmed down, she started having contractions,” said Angela.
Iris felt more relaxed and focused on her newborn kittens–three boys and one girl–in this secure home. She seldom ate, as she preferred staying with her children. Angela had to get room service started after Iris clarified that she would rather stay home than have lunch outside.
“She wolfs down a few seconds of food before the kitten starts crying, and she’ll return to her kittens in no time. So for the past few days, I’ve been keeping a bowl of food next to where Iris’s mother was feeding the newborn cats”, Angela continued.
The only girl in the litter was named Verba, while the three boys were dubbed Amber, Clover, and Comet. Iris, who is always chatty by nature, expressed joy to her kittens through incessant talking and constant purring. By nine days old, all the kittens had doubled their birth weight; Willow – who is on time developmentally – opened her eyes first, leaving the boys behind.
The shelter believes that Iris is still a kitten. However, she was still a kind and attentive mother despite this. She keeps her kittens in sight, ensuring they do not stray away.
Iris and her kittens are now healthy and happy. A loving family has adopted them. Thanks to the Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals, Iris, and her kittens were saved just in time.
