FRANKENMUTH, MI — A mother cat and her six newborn kittens were found abandoned outside a Michigan animal rescue in small cages with no food, water, or proper ventilation — left in the blazing sun on a day that reached 83 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cats were discovered around 6 p.m. near a side door of Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue Inc., which was closed at the time. Abigail Kreger, 30, the executive director of the nonprofit shelter, was shocked by the condition in which the cats had been left.
The mother cat was confined in a small metal crate, while her kittens were crammed into a blue plastic box without air holes. “There was no note or information with them. We don’t know who left them or why,” Kreger told Newsweek.
“They were left on cement in the hot sun. Since we’re closed on Mondays and our volunteer left at 11 a.m., we don’t know how long they were there,” she said. “The mama cat was very stressed. She could hear her kittens but couldn’t see or reach them.”
Thankfully, all six kittens were alive when they were found and showed no immediate signs of distress. They were taken to a veterinarian the next day and were found to be in good health, though two were smaller than the others and will need extra care.
Nicknamed “The Sesame Street Gang,” the kittens have been given playful names like Bert and Ernie. They and their mother, named Sesame, will move to a foster home together in the coming weeks, where they will receive around-the-clock care and more space to grow.
“The two smallest kittens will get extra feedings to help them catch up,” said Kreger. “We’ll keep a close eye on them because young kittens are vulnerable to illness.”
Once the kittens are weaned, Sesame will be spayed, microchipped, and made available for adoption. The kittens will undergo the same treatments before being placed in new homes. Kreger said the kittens will be adopted out in pairs to help prevent behavioral and health issues.
A video Kreger shared on TikTok (@aceengel), showing the conditions the cats were found in, quickly went viral. It has received over 119,000 views and nearly 28,000 likes. Comments poured in from heartbroken viewers, with many expressing anger at the cruelty and gratitude for the rescue team’s efforts.
“The response has been overwhelming,” said Kreger. “We reached our fundraising goal in just hours and now have more than $4,000 for the care of this cat family. It’s allowing us to consider taking in more kittens.”
Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue Inc. was founded in 2004 by Kreger’s mother, Nancy Engel. The shelter relies on donations, especially during the summer — a season with high surrender rates, low adoptions, and fewer financial contributions.
Kreger hopes sharing stories like this one will raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering pets. “We’re in the middle of an animal welfare crisis,” she said. “Shelters are overcrowded and underfunded. We need to act before more animals end up in danger.”
In the comment section of her video, one user wrote: “Poor mama looks like just a baby herself. Thank you for protecting them!” Another added: “They knew it was wrong — and still did it.”
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