One cat went from feral to stacking kittens on top of himself when he found a place he’d always wanted.

@widdlekittenclub

An orange and white cat came to his foster home in search of a better life. He spent almost his two years fighting to survive because the city was not kind to him.

After a long ordeal, he understandably became very timid and quickly took refuge in a hiding place. For some time he hid and quietly adapted to his new surroundings.

It wasn’t until he met his adoptive mother that he began to break out of his shell.

Mickey was rescued from the street@widdlekittenclub

through the support of St. Francis Society Animal Conservation Activities, a cat named Mickey doesn’t have to spend another day outside. Her foster mother, Kristen Sterner, gave her son time and space to unwind and reassure him that he was loved.

“Even though I’ve only been with him for a day, I feel so connected to him. It’s like I knew him and knew what he was saying to me through his big beautiful green eyes,” Kristen told Love Meow.

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Slowly but surely, Mickey began to relax. He found a soft bed to snuggle in and began to knead contentedly.

When Mickey was ready to socialize, Kristen introduced him to a set of foster kittens. Immediately, he took them under his wing and began bathing them, embracing them and suffocating them.

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The kittens were attracted to him and followed him as if they were “mothers.” He made them crawl over him, play with his tail, munch on his ears, and wrestle with his feet.

He was very happy to be surrounded by kittens and they were happy to have a mentor they could look up to.

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When it came time to find a forever home for Mickey, he was immediately taken in by a lovely family. Despite their best efforts to accommodate him, he continued to hide under his bed every day for several weeks, as if something was missing.

“I made it very clear that if it didn’t work out for whatever reason, I would be happy to bring him back,” Kristen told Love Meow. “Our job is to help them find the perfect fit.”

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When Mickey returned to his foster home, Kristen gave him a “kitten cave” where he could huddle whenever he needed reassurance. She spoke to him in a gentle voice and stroked him gently. After a while Mickey came.

Meanwhile, more rescue kittens came through the door. Mickey’s ears rang as soon as he heard their squeak. Young children came to see Mickey when they were medically cured.

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“He has such a sweet and gentle disposition that I thought he would be okay with the kittens, but I didn’t expect him to have such a great relationship with them.”

Mickey started loving and caring for each kitten he met. He soon became the guardian of their kittens, watching them play and keeping them out of trouble.

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The kittens were immediately drawn to him and melted into him when he washed his face or hugged him in his arms.

Mickey seems to be attuned to the kittens’ needs and is there for them throughout the day if they need extra attention. When her kitten sadly passed away, he sat next to Kristen’s girlfriend and tried to comfort her.

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“We ended up adopting him because we couldn’t adopt him? He chose us and he chose our home. He feels safe and loved here and can take care of the kittens with me,” Kristen said.

“You can see all the kittens piling up on top of him for a cuddle puddle. It’s very special.”

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Mickey is living the best life with his dream family. He gives them the same love he received when he was rescued.

“He went from being a feral cat to being the best foster kitty nanny ever. We can’t imagine life without him.”

@widdlekittenclub

Please share this story with your friends. For more information on Mickey and Kristen’s foster parents, visit Instagram @widdlekittenclub and St. Francis Society Animal Conservancy @stfrancisrescuetampa.

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