As a cat lover, Shea Prior enjoys spoiling her two kitties, giving them the comfy life every feline deserves. So, when she saw a cat, living outside and alone, she tried her best to befriend the wild tabby. But strays are skittish creatures and it took a little time for the cat to come near enough for connection.
When the cat finally accepted the food Shea offered, it didn’t take long for her to welcome some scritches too. Shea and the sweet grey girl had great conversations as well, with Shea asking questions and the kitty croaking her responses.
Her strange meow earned her the name Cricket, because as Shea said, “She can’t meow, she just croaks for some reason.”
Shea A Prior/Facebook
After a couple of days of feeding and chatting, Shea reported, “She was being very sweet and let me pick her up to love on her, and that’s when I noticed she was enlarged with milk.”
Shea realized right away, her new friend Cricket was a mom.
“So of course I started telling her to show me to her babies, and that I bet her babies were so pretty. All the while she’s just croaking away.”
Five Adorable Kittens
The next day, as Shea was watering her plants, Cricket came by with an invitation. Shea told Bored Panda, “She came running up to me and rubbed on my leg while making her little croaking noise she does.”
Shea eagerly followed Cricket, hoping this was the introduction to the kittens.
“She led me over to my shed and I looked and saw a couple of little fluffballs staring back at me. She flopped over on her side and started calling to them to come out and see me.”
Shea A Prior/Facebook
The kittens were shy at first, staring out from under the shed. But after some reassurance from their mom and Shea, one-by-one the 5 babies came out.
“One of the little gray ones was super brave and came up to me with his little pointy tail held up high in the air and let me pet him immediately.”
Shea A Prior/Facebook
“Eventually, after about 10 to 15 minutes, they had all come up to me and let me hold them and pet them.”
The House Grows from Three to Nine
Shea brought Cricket and her kittens in the house with her and her “two sweet girlies”. Suddenly a quiet house of 2, became a full feline house of 8! But, only for a little while. When Cricket deems the kittens ready, they will go to the homes Shea has already found for them.
After the kittens finish nursing, Cricket will be spayed, but Shea has recently lost her job due to coronavirus closures and money is tight. In an effort to cover the costs of the coming medical care, Shea started a fundraiser on GoFundMe.
To everyone who gave, Shea truly appreciates it, “Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated!!”
She also added, “If there is anything left after vet bills, the remainder will be donated to my local no-kill animal shelter.”
Thanks to a cat lover with a generous heart, a stray cat and her kittens found love and forever homes. Thank you, Shea!
H/T: www.boredpanda.com
Feature Images: Shea A Prior/Facebook