A cat hid under a stool at an animal shelter, but on the night she was taken into a home, they found her with kittens.

Eden, the tabby, came to an animal shelter with another cat. Scared, she avoided the staff and kept herself tucked under a stool. “She needed a quiet place to relax and come out of her shell,” the staff shared.

While the other cat was quickly adopted, Eden’s stay extended as she continued to hide, overwhelmed by the shelter environment. Determined to gain her trust, the staff began socializing her using a scratcher.

Instantly, she arched her back and began “kneading” as if the soothing touch flipped a switch.

Eden was very shy and hid under a stool at the shelterWichitaAnimalShelter

As Eden grew more comfortable and allowed touch, they confirmed what they had suspected. “A volunteer realized she was very pregnant,” Heidi Shoemaker, founder of Foster Kitten Mama, shared.

Thanks to many compassionate volunteers, she was rescued and transported to a foster home with Heidi.

She slowly warmed up to the staff, and they discovered she was pregnantWichitaAnimalShelter

Heidi sat with Eden for an hour, easing her worries after the stressful move. She treated her flea-ridden coat and gave her plenty of food to fill her belly. Unexpectedly, that night, Eden went into labor.

She lay in her nesting box, seemingly relieved to have Heidi by her side, supporting her throughout the process.

On the night she arrived in her foster home, she went into laborFosterKittenMama

By the next day, Eden had three little kittens blissfully nursing – two cow kittens (Evan and Everette) and a house panther (Elysse) who quickly proved to be the drama in the family with her loud, demanding screams.

During the first few days, Eden needed plenty of help and encouragement to stay in the nest and feed her kittens.

“I covered half of her pen over her nesting box, which seemed to help give her more security. Not all mamas know what to do right away, and Eden was definitely one of those. But, with help, she’s now doing exactly what she needs to for her little ones to grow and thrive.”

With food served in bed, Eden began to warm up to her foster mom and grew more trusting each day.

Everette was the first to open his eyes, curiously peering at the world beyond the nest, and soon, his siblings followed suit. Their mom catered to their every whim, making sure they were fed, clean, and loved.

Though still a bit scared, Eden constantly made “biscuits” (kneading her blanket) and allowed some petting from her foster mom.

As the kittens’ legs grew stronger, they waddled around, eager to break out of the confines of their nest. Even though their mom enjoyed her breaks, at the slightest peep, she’d rush back to her babies.

Once the trio graduated to a spacious playpen, they wasted no time diving into the water bowl and playing with toys.

Before long, they conquered their first summit of a cat post, quickly honing their climbing skills.

At six weeks old, the kittens have reached many milestones and are growing by leaps and bounds. “Eden is getting so much better the more I sit with her. It just takes patience, compassion, and time to undo the bad things that have happened to them.”

This beautiful family of four is flourishing as Eden raises her last litter in an environment filled with love and comfort.

“Eden has been doing a fantastic job mothering. I’m so thankful I was able to give her a safe spot and all the support she needs.”

Everette and ElysseFosterKittenMama

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