TAMPA, FL — Two tiny kittens, rescued after being orphaned during Hurricane Helene, have found a second chance in foster care—and have since adopted some very canine habits.
The tuxedo-patterned Hadley and her tabby brother, Ernie, arrived at a Tampa Humane Society severely underweight, weighing just 12 ounces each. Believed to have been brought in by Good Samaritans after the storm, the pair were malnourished and in desperate need of care.
Foster volunteer Allison took them in, providing round-the-clock bottle feedings and a warm, safe space to recover. “The first day, they were really struggling from feeling so hungry,” Allison told Love Meow. “Since then, they’ve been very brave and friendly.”
From Survival to Snuggles
Hadley, the more outgoing of the two, quickly bonded with her foster mom, demanding cuddles and kneading with her tiny paws once she felt safe. Soon, she began exploring beyond her playpen, coaxing her shy brother, Ernie, to join her.
But the kittens’ biggest surprise came when they met the resident dogs. Instantly fascinated, the duo trotted straight to their giant new friends, purring and nuzzling into their fur.
Ernie, a polydactyl kitten with extra toes, sniffed the dogs’ paws before curling up on one’s belly. Hadley, meanwhile, decided she was part of the pack—following the dogs everywhere, wrestling their tails, and even trying to nurse (despite the dogs having no milk to offer).
A Goofball with a Canine Spirit
“Hadley is super floppy and loves attention. She’s a goofball,” Allison said. The fearless tuxedo kitten mirrors the dogs’ behavior, lounging beside them as if she’s their equal—despite being the size of their paws.
While Ernie prefers sticking close to Allison, Hadley leads the charge on household adventures. The sound of a food bowl sends both sprinting like “miniature lightning bolts,” Allison joked.
Now thriving, the siblings spend their days climbing cat trees, sharing scratching posts, and snuggling with their canine guardians. At bedtime, they often burrow into their favorite dog, Olive, drifting off in her protective embrace.
Just weeks ago, these kittens were alone in a storm. Today, they’re surrounded by love—and, in Hadley’s case, living her best life as an honorary pup.
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