At just three weeks old, Mariya, the kitten, was found alone in a back lane with no sign of her mother.

Jill, a foster volunteer for Tails of Freedom, opened her home to the kitten and began caring for her around the clock. “Bottle babies are very fragile, and things can go south quickly, but Mariya seemed strong from the beginning,” Jill shared with Love Meow.

“Once we were starting to move to solid food, you get a feeling that you can ‘breathe easier,’ and they will make it.”

Mariya was small but feisty, with bright eyes and a hunger for affection despite everything she’d been through. Within days in foster care, she got the hang of the bottle and started gaining weight and strength.

Jill gave her a heartbeat snuggle toy to keep her company through the night.

After two weeks of round-the-clock feeding, Mariya graduated to a more spacious pen where she could learn to play and use the litter box. Then she met Gracie, the resident cat, and it was love at first sight.

“Being such a tiny baby, she was immediately drawn to Gracie when they were introduced.”

Gracie, a wobbly cat with cerebellar hypoplasia, took to the little newcomer. Soon, they were snuggled up side by side, their legs stretched out comfortably.

When Mariya noticed Gracie used a cart to get around, she curiously hopped onto her back, ready for a ride around the house. Gracie didn’t mind the little passenger as she kept trucking along.

As Mariya finished her last bottle, she quickly adjusted to eating solid food, enjoying every bite. With more space to explore, she often strutted sideways, puffing up her tail to appear twice her size.

She bounced around the room, playfully wrestling her own feet, until she tired herself out from all the fun.

“Sometimes, she plays with toys, but you can always count on those feet and that tail for endless entertainment.”

At nap time, Gracie found her little admirer nestled beside her, purring into her ears. Growing attached to her friend, she snuggled close to the kitten as they drifted off to sleep.

Besides playing with her feet, Mariya likes to swipe at Gracie’s tail every time it swings around. “She moves her tail all the time, even if she’s happy. Mariya likes this game—batting at the tail and then hopping away.”

With an energetic kitten around, Gracie is encouraged to play more, letting her inner-kitten come out.

Jill’s cat, Oliver, who has since passed, was Gracie’s constant companion and brought interactions that enriched her world.

It’s been Jill’s goal to find Gracie a new friend. Mariya has rekindled that same joy in Gracie, making her excited to wake up each morning. “I love when she curls up with Gracie. It makes my heart happy.”

Mariya seems to understand Gracie’s cues perfectly, always knowing how to respond. She thrives in Gracie’s presence and embraces her every quirk as if they were truly made for each other.

“Mariya was sleeping on Gracie when Gracie started to get restless and wanted to change position. She flipped over, but Mariya didn’t move an inch or wake up.”

Jill was smitten with the kitten from the moment she arrived, but she waited to ensure Mariya and Gracie would form a special connection. “They did, especially as Mariya’s time in foster went on.”

“Now, they share a strong bond. Mariya will often go to snuggle with Gracie, and Gracie will groom Mariya.”

“Mariya is home. She has been all along. It took a bit, but Oliver sent the perfect little girl to love.”