Special Kitten Growing Strong After Beginning Was Nearly End

By: Kelli Brinegar
For more than five years, Kelli Brinegar has been using her ability to write and her passion for research to tell the tale of what cats are thinking and why. She has provided care to more than 30 cats in her lifetime.Read more
| April 10, 2020

Sometimes nature can be cruel, but the kindness of cat-loving hearts can ease the harsh facts of life. And at just one-day-old, Aela the kitten has already learned these truths.

The tiny black kitten was found alone in a backyard, so young her eyes had yet to open. Her rescue came after a woman heard her little cries for help and put out a plea on Facebook.

Volunteer and foster for Wrenn Rescues, Ashley Kelley came across the post and went into action. Ashley said, “Something told me that I needed to go get it immediately. I got in touch with the finder, grabbed a mask and gloves, and hopped in my car. It was already 9PM.”


@bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram

When Ashley arrived to pick up the kitten, the woman who’d found her had tucked the baby into a safe, warm space and looked for the mother. But, sadly, no mom returned. And this could have been due to the fact, Aela had a cleft nose.

“Unfortunately that is how nature works sometimes,” Ashley explained. “Mamas leave their weak, incompatible-with-life babies and focus on their healthy ones.”

But in the dark of the evening and on a small black cat, Aela’s nose had yet to be seen.


@bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram

When Ashley returned home with the kitten, she gave the baby a look over and discovered Aela’s special nose. Ashley also noticed, “She has a teeny tiny hole in her palate along with the cleft nose, so it’s not safe to bottle feed her. She needs to be tube-fed.”

But, as an expert in fostering kittens, Ashley knew just how to care for the sweet girl and Aela soon settled in.


@bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram

Special Girl Growing Strong

Ashley reports, “Little Aela is just pure sweetness.”

The baby house panther loves to be brushed with a little toothbrush and after her grooming, she curls up in Ashley’s hand and falls asleep. And the only time Aela gets fussy is when its time to eat.


@bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram

Though Aela has special needs due to her cleft nose and palatal hole, Ashley told Love Meow, “Other than needing to be tube-fed, she is a remarkably normal kitten so far. She recognizes my scent and cuddles up to my hands.”


@bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram

“It’s almost as though she understands that I am helping her.”

At one week old, Aela has gained a good amount of weight. Ashley shared, “Today she weighs 140g, which is 55g more than she weighed when I got her 6 days ago. She is turning out to be quite the little potato!”

And Aela is the most darling little spud ever!

H/T: www.lovemeow.com
Feature Image: @bruceandfoxfosters/Instagram