“They are so soft and snuggly” 🥺
A Shocking Discovery on a Quiet Morning
It was a typical Monday morning in St. Louis, Missouri, when a homeowner noticed a car approaching his house. What happened next left him utterly stunned. A woman stepped out, placed two large storage totes in his front yard, and quickly drove off.
Curious, the man walked over to investigate the strange containers. Noticing small holes in the lids, he opened them—and was shocked to find 20 kittens peering back at him, desperately trying to escape.
A Rescue Mission Begins
Realizing the urgency of the situation, the man didn’t hesitate. He gathered the totes and drove straight to Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL). Upon arrival, he explained what had happened, and the staff was equally surprised to find such a large group of kittens.
One tote contained eight kittens, each about six weeks old. The second tote, to their astonishment, housed two adult cats along with ten nursing babies. This unexpected influx of furry faces put a strain on SRSL’s already crowded kennels.
A Call for Help
With the shelter nearing capacity, SRSL quickly issued a call for foster homes on social media. The response was heartening. Within a day, all of the kittens had found foster families willing to take them in.
The family of cats found in the second tote, lovingly nicknamed the “Fried Green Tomato family,” were sent to a peaceful foster home, where the babies could continue nursing. The kittens from the first tote, known as the “Sailor family,” were placed in homes in smaller groups, allowing them to thrive.
Thriving in Foster Care
Four of the Sailor kittens—Rudder, Bilge, Lazzarette, and Passerelle—found a temporary home with fosterer Nathan Light, who was thrilled with their progress.
“They’re all doing great and adjusting to their temporary home,” Light said. “We already have several people interested in adopting them!”
Two more of the Sailor kittens, Halyard and Scupper, also settled into their foster home with Quinn McLendon, where they’ve become fast favorites.
“Halyard and Scupper are super sweet and cuddly,” McLendon shared. “They sleep with us every night and love to purr.”
Unique Personalities Emerge
Though they come from the same litter, Halyard and Scupper have developed their own unique interests. Scupper is energetic and loves playing with his cat wand, while Halyard prefers quiet moments gazing out at the lake.
“They immediately bonded with my boyfriend and think he’s their mom,” McLendon said. “They’re so soft and snuggly. I love how sweet they are.”
A Bright Future Ahead
Halyard and Scupper currently share their foster home with two dogs and five other cats, two of whom are SRSL alumni. Though McLendon would love to keep them, she knows they’d thrive in a quieter environment. Fortunately, her friends have stepped in to provide them with loving forever homes.
“My best friend, Autumn, applied for Halyard and was approved!” McLendon said. “And my other friends, Shannon and Timothy, applied for Scupper.”
These resilient kittens will soon embark on the next chapter of their lives, where they’ll continue to receive love and care from their new families. After a difficult start, the kittens have finally found the happy ending they deserve.
“I am so excited for their next steps in life!” McLendon said.