“She literally fit in the palm of your hand.”
Last year, experienced foster mom Erin Moore welcomed the tiniest kitten she had ever seen into her care. At just 8 weeks old, the little one — later named Mouse — was barely the size of a 3-week-old kitten.
“She literally fit in the palm of your hand,” Moore shared in a video for The Dodo. “She was half the size of a water bottle.”
Mouse was the extreme runt of her litter, and because of her fragile size, many doubted she would survive past 6 months. But Moore was determined to give her every chance to thrive.
“Despite Mouse’s tiny stature, she came fully loaded with the sass and the attitude of a teenager,” Moore said.
Around the same time, Moore also fostered another special-needs cat named Coraline. Coraline had suffered severe eye damage and needed surgery to remove both eyes. Though the procedure was daunting, Coraline’s resilient spirit shone through.
“It was as though she knew that she had a life to live that was going to be better and bigger than the life she had with eyes,” Moore explained.
As Mouse focused on growing stronger and Coraline learned to navigate the world without sight, the two kittens formed an extraordinary friendship. Mouse often acted as Coraline’s guide, showing her the way around the house.
“Mouse will, time and time again, show her things without her having to see them,” Moore said. “She has guided her to an open window so that Coraline can smell outside.”
With Mouse’s encouragement, Coraline quickly adapted — running around, climbing stairs, and even jumping onto high surfaces. Meanwhile, Mouse gained confidence and strength through helping her best friend.
Touched by their bond, Moore decided she couldn’t part with them. She officially adopted both Mouse and Coraline, ensuring they would always have each other.
Now, over a year later, the pair are thriving. They spend their days grooming one another, play-fighting, and curling up together for naps. Even as confident, full-grown cats, they continue to support and care for each other in ways only they understand.
“It’s so unique to watch the relationship that they have,” Moore said. “Even though they are not from the same litter and do not share the same history of deficits, they truly understand each other.”