While walking her dog near a wooded area in Rome, Georgia, a woman noticed her pup suddenly becoming agitated.
At first, she wasn’t sure what had caught his attention — until she heard faint meowing coming from the trees.
Curious and concerned, she followed the sound and discovered a cardboard box tucked among the brush. Inside were five tiny kittens, huddled together for warmth and safety.
As she was still taking in the sight, two adult cats cautiously emerged from the trees. One was clearly the kittens’ mother — and the other was visibly pregnant.
Thankfully, the woman knew just who to call: her brother, Ricky, a volunteer with Floyd Felines, a local rescue group dedicated to helping cats in need.
Together, they gently gathered the kittens and both adult cats and placed them in the car to transport them to the rescue.
But the story took an unexpected turn during the drive. The pregnant cat, clearly exhausted but finally feeling safe, began to give birth in the car.
“The moment they put her in a laundry basket with a blanket, she must have felt secure enough to go into labor,” said Emily, a volunteer at Floyd Felines.
By the time they reached the shelter, she had already delivered two healthy kittens — and two more arrived shortly after.
It was a chaotic but beautiful moment, and the team at Floyd Felines was relieved that everything had gone smoothly.
The other mother cat, who had been caring for her five babies entirely on her own, was in desperate need of nourishment. She eagerly devoured three cans of food, clearly ravenous after days of survival in the woods.
“She was skin and bones,” Emily said. “Just so hungry.”
Sadly, this isn’t an unusual situation in the Southeast, where warm weather allows cats to reproduce year-round — with some having up to five litters per year.
That’s why Floyd Felines is committed not only to rescuing, but also to spaying and neutering as many cats as possible.
“We promise every mom who comes into our shelter that this is her last litter,” said Chrissy, another volunteer.
Now named Phyllis and Mary Kate, the two mother cats are recovering peacefully and caring for their new babies in comfort and safety. Once the kittens are old enough, they’ll all be vaccinated, fixed, and placed for adoption.
It’s hard to imagine how close this little feline family came to being lost in the woods forever. But thanks to one observant woman and the team at Floyd Felines, 11 precious lives are now on the path to happy, loving homes.
To follow their journey or support Floyd Felines, you can find them on Facebook and Instagram. Donations are also welcome via PayPal, Zeffy, their Amazon wishlist, or Venmo (@FloydFelines).
