A feral cat went indoors for the first time. Her journey took a beautiful turn with one of her kittens.
Baylee, a dilute calico, had spent almost a year outdoors, fending for herself in a tough neighborhood. Elusive and timid, she always tried to hide from people until she came across a kind person with a caring heart.
A resident noticed Baylee one day and began feeding her, trying to gain her trust. When she realized Baylee was pregnant, she reached out for help and asked if a rescue would take a chance on a feral cat.
Heidi Shoemaker, founder of the rescue, opened her home to Baylee and saw a sweet soul behind those wary eyes.
Terrified after her time on the streets, she huddled in a litter box for a while, but the moment she touched a soft blanket, she began kneading, seeking solace. “(It was) wonderful to see her experience something so soft and cozy,” Heidi shared.
“Thankfully, I was able to bring her into my rescue, and she had her babies shortly after.”
Baylee gave birth to four kittens in the comfort of a loving home. Their voracious appetites soon had them plumping up, wriggling around the nest with newfound energy.
With a change of environment and an all-you-can-eat buffet, indoor life slowly grew on Baylee. She was very protective of her kittens but had loosened up a lot and even tried to play.
“Once her babies were about three weeks old, I added some toys. I caught Baylee playing with a ball spinner, and my heart melted. She wasn’t even a year old, but that was probably her first toy ever,” Heidi told Love Meow.
She started to enjoy being petted and even called out for attention when she saw someone walk by.
Weighing just five pounds, Baylee was about the size of a 6-month-old kitten. Once she finished raising her last litter, she could finally be a kitten again and play to her heart’s content. “None of them will contribute to making any more babies. The cycle stops here.”
Baylee’s four littles grew by leaps and bounds in foster care. Bradley, the only ginger and the only boy, was a bundle of energy and didn’t seem to have a pause button.
His sisters, Bridget, Brynn, and Brooklyn, matched his boisterous energy, racing him to the top of every cat tree or post. They whirled around the place like tiny tornadoes until they finally collapsed into a deep slumber.
A lovely couple came across Baylee’s story and was touched by her transformation from feral to friendly. They wanted to give her a forever home but couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone.
They reached out to the rescue and asked if they could adopt Baylee with one of her kittens.
“Baylee’s life started out really rough, as she was born outside to her feral mama. Now, her life has changed, and she will be forever loved and cared for. That is enough to make my heart burst with happiness.”
Bradley, the ginger, won over a family with a cat-adoring dog. His human mom had been counting down the days to make the adoption official. “She recently lost her beloved kitty and has been waiting to bring another home. Her dog has been missing his feline companion as well.”
Soon after moving in, Bradley claimed the house as his kingdom, hogging warm laps, “helping” his people in the office, and cuddling his canine buddy all day long.
Brooklyn was adopted with a foster kitten from another litter, and they quickly became best friends. Bridget joined a family with another kitten eagerly awaiting her arrival, and before long, the two were thick as thieves.
Baylee and her beloved kitten, Brynn, embarked on a new journey with their forever family, and the sweet mama truly blossomed.
She thrived with her baby girl and found her place in her new abode. “She started out life hard but now has the brightest path before her.”
