Tracy and Her Six Kittens Come to PAWS

Mar 09, 2021

Even though the 40+ inches of snow blanketing Chicago just melted, kitten season has officially arrived. Every year, the arrival of spring (or, in this case, a warmer-than-average winter) kicks off what the animal rescue world refers to as “kitten season,” a time of the year from April into early fall when many mother cats give birth to their litter(s) of kittens. And some of the very first products of kitten season to come to PAWS in 2021? Tracy and her six squirmy babies! 

Before coming to PAWS, Tracy and her kittens, Tino, Tim, Tisha, Teva, Tara, and Tod, were at Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), scared and tucked in the back of their cage. Each kitten weighed less than five ounces and were just days old. But, even when facing fear, Tracy remained as sweet as can be. When CACC reached out for our help, we said “yes!”  

Since coming to PAWS, Tracy’s kittens have had a lot of firsts: their first time in a foster home (actually, any home), their first time opening their eyes to see the world, and soon, their first time receiving the vaccinations that will keep them healthy.  

Their foster mom, Michele, is a longtime PAWS foster and regularly steps in to help with special cases, like nursing cats or neonate kittens. She said, “Mama Tracy & I have a relationship of mutual respect. I respect her job as mom and caretaker of her six babies. She respects my job as provider of meals & scooper of poop. When I cross the line of handling her babies, she immediately goes to them in a protective stance. I am ok with our relationship. One day, though, I want to snuggle her babies.”