“She literally fit in the palm of your hand.”Last year, experienced cat foster mom Erin Moore welcomed the tiniest kitten she had ever seen into her home. At just 8 weeks old, the little cat was no bigger than most kittens less than half her age.
“She could literally fit in the palm of your hand,” Moore shared in a video for The Dodo. “She was smaller than a water bottle.”
The kitten, appropriately named Mouse because of her tiny size, was the runt of her litter. Many people doubted she’d survive beyond 6 months, but Moore was determined to give her the best chance at life.
“Even though she was so small, Mouse had the sass and attitude of a teenager,” Moore said with a smile.
Around the same time, Moore took in another special-needs foster, a kitten named Coraline. Due to a severe eye condition, Coraline had undergone surgery to have both eyes removed. Despite such a daunting challenge, Coraline’s spirit was strong, and Moore could see her eagerness to embrace life in her own way.
“It was almost like she knew her future was brighter without eyes,” Moore recalled.
As Mouse worked on growing and Coraline learned to navigate the world without sight, the two formed a remarkable friendship. Moore often watched as Mouse gently guided Coraline through new experiences.
“Mouse will show her things without Coraline needing to see them,” Moore explained. “She’s even led her to an open window so she could enjoy the smells outside.”
Soon, Coraline was confidently exploring the house, racing up the stairs, and leaping onto tall surfaces. And helping Coraline gave Mouse the confidence and strength she needed to grow into a healthy, thriving cat herself.
Their unbreakable bond touched Moore so deeply that she decided to adopt them both. Over a year later, Mouse and Coraline are still inseparable. They spend their days playing, cuddling, and grooming each other, always finding new ways to show their love.
“It’s amazing to see the relationship they share,” Moore said. “Even though they’re not littermates and faced very different struggles, they just understand each other.”