Las Vegas, Nevada, is a warm, sunshiney place. And, like most areas of the U.S., it boasts an overwhelming number of stray and feral cats. Unlike many areas, where cat breeding and “kitten season” are more pronounced, Las Vegas’ warm weather means that there are tons of homeless feline families wandering all year round. Patricia Lika, an experienced foster based in Las Vegas, is one of the kind volunteers that spends her time taking care of these stray kitties.
In an e-mail to our staff, Patricia writes, “I’ve been a foster mom for about 4 years and it has definitely impacted my life for the better. I have seen so much pain and suffering from cats and kittens needing help.”
“It really takes a village and community to work together and be able to help the ones in need.”
This past February, Patricia started fostering a fluffy, pregnant kitty named Stella. The adorable Siamese had been given up by her owners and was abandoned at a shelter, scared and alone.
Poor Stella was so confused and heartbroken about what had happened, she refused to even eat.
“I firmly believe it was from depression,” Patricia wrote. “Because she didn’t have any other symptoms, just sadness.”
The poor Mama cat was so sad she couldn’t even lift her head to eat. Patricia was worried sick about the little Stella and her kittens. And so, she started feeding the pregnant cat by hand. Thankfully, with Patricia’s patience, Stella started to cheer up. She realized the woman was caring for and she had no reason to be afraid. The only thing left to do was wait for her tiny kittens and pray they were of a good weight.
Shortly after bonding with Patricia, at about 4:30 a.m., Stella finally gave birth to her litter of kittens. “They were all born very healthy and chunky,” Patricia said.
“I was lucky enough to be there with her and be her kitten midwife.”
Despite being abandoned by her owners and temporarily traumatized by depression, Stella quickly became a master caregiver. “She has definitely spoiled her babies,” Patricia said.
Patricia shared Stella and the kittens’ journey on her Instagram account, and, as you can probably imagine, people went crazy for Stella and her adorable, matching babies.
