One evening, as a volunteer at IndyHumane took a shelter dog out for his last walk, she noticed a car pull up near a dumpster on the property. The driver placed a cardboard box beside it and quickly left.
Something didn’t feel right.
When the volunteer approached the box, she saw small air holes punched into the sides. Peering through them, she spotted two pairs of frightened eyes looking back at her.
She immediately alerted staff, and together they carried the box inside. It was a bitterly cold night, with snow covering the ground — the cats needed warmth fast.
More Than Expected
As one staff member lifted the box, she realized it was far heavier than two cats should be.
When they opened it, they were stunned.
There weren’t two cats inside — there were 10.
It was an unprecedented situation for the shelter. The largest previous group they’d taken in at once had been three.
A Whole Family
After examining the cats, staff identified the group as:
- One mother with three kittens
- Another mother with two kittens
- One adolescent male
- One adolescent female
- One adult male
Their familiarity with one another suggested they likely came from the same household.
At first, the cats were frozen in place, too overwhelmed to move even after the box was opened. But once they began to warm up and realize they were safe, their personalities started to shine.
“They were instantly purring and super affectionate,” a shelter representative shared.
A Brighter Future
Most of the cats were given names inspired by characters from Friends. The two moms and their kittens quickly went into foster care, while the three older cats were placed up for adoption.
Staff are especially grateful the box was discovered when it was. Had it been dropped off just a little later, the cats might have been left outside in freezing temperatures all night.
Instead, what could have been a tragic situation became a rescue story with a hopeful ending.
The 10 cats are now warm, cared for and well on their way to finding permanent, loving homes — proof that quick action can change everything.