Feline foster mom rescues a “mama” cat and her kittens, until her vet lifts the tail to reveal two terrible troublepuffs and one very misidentified cat

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 31, 2026 7:00 PM EDT

What would you do if you accidentally stole a cat?

We've seen some hissterical feline mixups in our time as writers for I Can Has Cheezburger. Pawrents thinking their lost cat has come home, only to realize that it's not "their" cat at all, twin-like cats getting adopted by the opposite family, etc. But this story takes the cake, or should we say, the "troublepuffs".

Minh, the feline foster mom, documented her hilarious story in Reddit's r/Cats subreddit for all of us cat connoisseurs to giggle at. She heartwarmingly opened her house to a mama cat and her two kittens until they could find homes for them. When she went to pick them up at the shelter, "mama cat" did not want to be touched, so she just let her get into the traveling carrier without much thought.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10634286080
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 02
    i foster with a cat rescue group, and a few months ago i received a message about a mumma cat and 2 kittens who had been humanely trapped by a member of the public and needed a place to stay. i picked them up the next day and took them to my apartment.
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 03
    i knew the two babies were little boys (gremlin and dobby) but "mumma" did not enjoy being handled, so i wasn't able to closely examine her before going to the vet the next day.
    via jordanmoriarty

  • Fast forward to their vet appointment, and her vet went to examine this “mama cat", and what did they see? Two dangling troublepuffs. A full set of the family jewels. Mama cat was not a mama, nor was she even a female! Turns out this orange tomcat just went along for the ride, and she realized she had potentially cat-napped a random tomcat.

    The best part about it, though? He loves the kittens. He may not be the dad, but he certainly is the dad who stepped up.

    Let this story be a reminder to all of us that family isn't something that is defined by what's in your veins, but what's in your heart. A lot of us have to choose our own family, and that family might be better than the one we were born into. Cheers to all the tomcats who are loving dads at heart!

  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10634286848
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 05
    when it became "mumma's" turn to be taken out of the carrier and get checked out, the vet remarked "god she smells like a tomcat". a moment of silence ensued... before the tail was lifted and a giant set of troublepuffs was discovered!
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 06
    "mumma" has since been named linkle, and we don't know if he's the father/older brother/random dude along for the ride. the vet thinks he may have been raised alongside the kittens, as his fondness for them is quite unusual being a (then) entire male cat.
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 07
    SMOL TEN
    via jordanmoriarty
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    he just loves looking after kittens though. i recently took on two little ones (leaf and tatiana), and he's been taking care of them too. he cuddles and grooms them just like a mother cat.
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 09
    he's since settled into the life of a house cat, chunked up quite a bit, loves chin scratches and his tail does that little vibrate thing when you pet him. it's been incredible watching him go from hissing every time i enter the room, to waiting for me at the door while yelling.
    via jordanmoriarty
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    Cheezburger Image 10634287104
    via jordanmoriarty
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    linkle has a meet and greet this weekend, so he might be leaving my house soon. i don't usually get attached to my fosters, but i've got quite a soft spot for this guy. i don't think i'll ever see another cat quite like him.
    via jordanmoriarty
  • 12
    warmtortilla420 the father that stepped up
    via warmtortilla420
  • 13
    No_Consideration5005 He's adorable. He'd make a good permanent "uncle" for foster kitties.
    via No_Consideration5005
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    Cheezburger Image 10634287360
    via jordanmoriarty
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    Lissyncia Jumping onto the enabling train to say you can always keep the lovely man to be a help with foster kittens Uncle Linkle does have a ring to it hehe
    via Lissyncia
  • 16
    Radiant Leader You say he's great with all the foster kittens, so why not keep him.
    via Radiant_Leader
  • 17
    8Bit-Jon You could always keep the fella! He could be good with other foster kittens
    via 8Bit-Jon

  • We always say that cats and their hoomans are like wands and wizards in Harry Potter. In Harry Potter, the wand chooses the wizard, and we think it kind of works the same way with cats and their future pawrents. It's ultimately the cat's decision if they want to live with you, and this orange tomcat chose to live with his foster mom and the two kittens, of which he had no relation. He had no reason to join them or pretend to be their mother, but he did it anyway. Why? Because he chose it.

  • 18
    KevRev972 If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the universe called your bet on fostering, and raised by a premium chaperone.
    via KevRev972
  • 19
    Pir8inthedesert Foster fail! Foster fail!
    via Pir8inthedesert
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    TableAvailable I think you really need to keep him. He's going to be depr sed without new babies to care for.
    via TableAvailable
  • 21
    Mysterious_Mango_3 This is my "mama" Murph. He raised three sets of kittens (11 total). He kept one.
    via Mysterious_Mango_3
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    Cheezburger Image 10634298112
    via Mysterious_Mango_3
  • 23
    Catpaws335 Awww that's such a sweet story! I think you should keep him and he can help raise other foster babies you take in! I've seen other cats do the same thing- it's so sweet seeing them take to little kittens right away. Also, your title made me lol
    via Catpaws335
  • 24
    virtuoso-lurker Aw he's a Tom Mom :D
    via virtuoso-lurker
  • 25
    Acceptable-Ad-4437 He's living his best life! He just wants to be with his babies!!
    via Acceptable-Ad-4437
  • 26
    obsidianronin This is Poseidon. Poseidon also will adopt literally ANY stray kitten he possibly can and groom them half to death. He is 14 and only has half of his teeth left, but that does not stop him from kitten wrangling. Some male cats are just like that.
    via obsidianronin
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    Cheezburger Image 10634298368
    via obsidianronin
  • 28
    KindheartednessSad55 Some foster kittens/cats really benefit from a gentle/caring house cat- it helps them adjust and realize you/humans are safe faster! Idk he seems like he's dedicated to helping all the kittens with you!
    via KindheartednessSad55
  • 29
    Sir_Render_of_France If you regularly foster I strongly recommend keeping him. He is clearly a loving uncle and would be a good influence on foster kittens that come through your home. He also seems pretty fond of you so I think the CDS has chosen you.
    via Sir_Render_of_France

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foster fail mama cat Cats cute kittens
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