Kitten Found in Alley as Orphan - a Cat and Dog Took Turns to Be Her Mom

An orphaned kitten came to the shelter in need of motherly love. A cat and a dog offered a helping paw.

James Mayer

Nala the tabby was found in a dirt alley three months ago when she was a newborn kitten. She was taken in by Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) in Spokane Valley, Washington.

Neonatal kittens like her will have a much higher chance of survival if they can be placed with a nursing mom. The shelter immediately reached out to their foster volunteers, trying to find her a surrogate.

James Mayer was fostering a cat mom and her kittens at the time when Nala was brought in. "I was fostering a pregnant mama kitty, Maddie, and she had her babies," James told Love Meow.

James Mayer

Maddie gave birth to nine kittens, but only four survived. When she was introduced to Nala, she took her right in and started caring for her as if she was her own.

"Maddie started cleaning her, showing her acceptance and love," James said.

James Mayer

Maddie's own kittens welcomed their new sister with open paws. They started playing and snuggling together like a big family.

Nala was much smaller than her siblings. When the bigger kitties were ready for adoption, she still had a lot of growing to do.

James Mayer

"She had to stay behind as the others and mama were adopted," James said.

Suddenly, Nala became a singleton and was constantly seeking company and cuddles.

James Mayer

That's when they thought of Izzy the dog, who just had a litter of pups.

James decided to try putting her with the canine mama and hoped she would accept the kitten. As soon as Izzy saw her feline baby, she was eager to love her and care for her.

James Mayer

"Izzy kept trying to get Nala and put her with her babies. When we finally let Nala in with them, she didn't want to leave. She snuggled in and loved her new family," James told Love Meow.

"The pups still had their eyes closed so they didn't know any different. They snuggled in and she loved it."

James Mayer

Nala spent the next couple weeks with her canine family and picked up a few new skills along the way.

They snuggled in a cuddle-puddle when they were done nursing, and Nala would purr up a storm next to her adoring canine siblings as if she was singing their favorite lullaby.

James Mayer

When she finally reached two pounds and was ready to find a place to call her own, they quickly matched her up with the perfect home.

"She got adopted by a family that got a puppy, and they are forever bonded!"

James Mayer

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