Two tiny kittens saved from the storm now follow everyone around, thinking they are part dog.
A tuxedo and a tabby ended up at the Humane Society in Tampa, desperately needing a foster home. Weighing around 12 ounces, they were starved of both food and love.
Allison, a foster volunteer, offered to help and gave the pair a cozy place to settle in. They were believed to have been “found as orphans and brought in by Good Samaritans as a result of the storm (Helene).”
“The first day, they were really struggling from feeling so hungry. Since then, they have been very brave and friendly,” Allison shared with Love Meow.
The tuxedo, Hadley, clung to her human once she felt safe. After getting a full belly, she demanded to be held and leaned into her foster mom, purring and kneading away with her tiny mittens.
Allison provided the kittens with round-the-clock care to make sure they were back on track with their growth. “I may not be sleeping a lot, but this face makes it all worth it.”
Hadley began venturing outside the confines of her playpen and encouraged her little brother, Earnest (or Ernie), to join her.
As soon as the kittens heard the paw-steps of the resident dogs, their eyes lit up with excitement. Eager to meet them, they made a beeline for the canines, purring nonstop as they nuzzled into their fur.
Ernie, a polydactyl, sniffed around the giant paws before nestling on the belly of his canine friend.
The gentle dogs don’t mind the kittens nursing on them despite not having any milk to offer. They happily watch over them, letting them pounce on their tails and wrestle with their floppy ears.
Hadley enjoys lounging beside the dogs just like she’s part of the pack. Despite being the size of their paws, she follows them around, trying to match what they do.
The fearless tuxedo acts as if she were part canine, seeing herself as an equal to the dogs in the house. “Hadley is super floppy and loves attention. She’s a goofball.”
As she readies herself for a snooze, she snuggles up to a canine friend, tucking herself close.
While Ernie sticks close to his foster mom, Hadley goes on many excursions around the house or hangs out with her canine crew. The mere clink of a food bowl sends both scrambling like miniature lightning bolts.
“They love to follow me around and immediately wake up and meow when they hear me talk (probably because I’m feeding them). Both of their personalities are starting to shine through now that their bellies are consistently filled.”
Hadley, the more outgoing of the two, nudges her brother to climb the towering heights of the cat tree. She shares her favorite scratching post with him and brings him to her canine friends.
No more wandering outside alone – the kittens are thriving in their foster home. They have each other and a big family to ensure their future will be bright and filled with love.
Ernie followed Hadley to Olive, the dog, clambering over her to seek comfort. Nestled in cozily, they drifted to sleep, secure in her protective embrace.
Just days ago, the kittens were outside alone, at risk of being swept away by the storm. Now, they are flourishing in foster care, with kind humans to spoil them and gentle dogs to play and snuggle with.
