Shiva's Shocking Tale Needs a Happy Ending

On a hot summer day in June, a CAWS Cat Foster Coordinator and PetSmart store manager discovered a mother cat and her six 8-week old kittens crammed together in a small plastic storage bin that had been left by the store's dumpster. There was no water. The cats were in critical condition,dehydrated,  breathing shallowly through open mouths, and too weak to stand.

After being covered in cold, wet cloths, the cats started to stand on wobbly legs and drink cool water. Their breathing calmed and deepened. After about an hour, the glaze left their eyes and several of the kittens started to purr. They knew they were safe.

While the weakened cats were waiting to be picked up from a mandatory stay in the animal shelter, they contracted pneumonia. Once again, the cats were in a critical state and were rushed to a participating CAWS veterinarian. And once again, the mother cat, now called Shiva, and her babies endured.

They were eventually well enough to move  to a CAWS foster home. After several weeks in an attentive home environment, Shiva and her kittens recovered. Despite the cruelty and illness they suffered, they retained their sweet dispositions.

Most of the kittens were quickly adopted into new homes, where they are happy and thriving. Shiva and her kitten Ripley are available for adoption, waiting for their forever families to finally arrive.