Earlier this summer, an unsuspecting Ohio resident suddenly discovered a handful of fluffy faces in her garden. The woman, who preferred to be anonymous, but we’ll refer to her as Jane, instantly recognized the kittens: They looked just like the infamous female stray cat who’d eluded her for years.
But this time, Jane was determined to bring them all inside.
As much as Jane wanted to scoop all six kittens up the minute she found them, their mom was too fearful to let her close. So, Jane slowed down her approach and decided to win over the mama cat and her kittens over time, using food as an incentive and putting out bowls of water.
The little family was skeptical about Jane’s approach until, one day, Jane noticed the mama cat eating while sitting right next to her. The kittens came around more quickly, becoming more trusting of Jane with each new Churu snack she provided.
Before long, the empathetic rescuer was able to pick the kittens up one by one and carry them home.
When Jane initially rescued the cat family, she imagined finding them all permanent homes where they could grow and thrive. It wasn’t long before she realized that their forever homes were closer than initially imagined.
“Five out of six kittens are spoken for,” Jane told The Dodo. “A pair for my husband and I, a pair for a friend and his partner, and a singleton for my dog’s foster mom … Honestly, if we can’t find a home for the last kitten, we’ll probably keep him, as well.”
After years of living as a stray, Joanie struggled to acclimate to life indoors. But her kittens have all seemed to adapt to their new home — and the humans whom they share it with — nicely.
“The kittens have been socializing wonderfully, and several have already given us kisses and purrs,” Jane said.
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