Stray cat trusts a cat lover with her last surviving newborn kitten, sparks wholesome discussion online about feline companionship: 'You're supposed to co-parent'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jun 12, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Do cats love us? 

Of course they do! Any cat lover can see when a feline is feeling safe around them. They purr, they curl up, and they bring us "gifts" from the outside world. Although we don't always want to have a stinky worm or a lifeless bird dropped on our doorstep, the sentiment still rings true to a cat's instincts: they're helping us because we help them. 

Cats are mysterious creatures, for sure, but there's no mystery that the cat in this next story loves her human. A cat lover went to Reddit's r/cats subreddit to share some wholesome and heartwarming details about a recent stray cat encounter that has the entire cat community buzzing with love. This story about a stray feline mama and her last surviving newborn kitten stirs something in our souls and proves that cats do, in fact, love us back. So saddle up for a real feline tear-jerker, because this kitty mama went from a life on the streets without anyone to care for her and love her, to having a loving home where she felt comfortable and safe enough to share kitten-sitting duties with the humans. 

If that's not the most wholesome thing you read on the internet today, I don't know what could pawsibly top it. 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Advertisement
  • Mama cat won't stop bringing her kittens into my bed! Help!
    via MermaidofCups
  • She had a litter of one, just a single kitten. A stray pregnant cat adopted us about a month back, and finally had her one baby this past Friday (about five days ago). We think he may
    via MermaidofCups
  • have been a bit premature, but he's finally starting to look sturdier thank god. More the way we expected a newborn kitten would look (pictured). But
    via MermaidofCups
  • mama suddenly started bringing her baby into our bed at night. The first time it happened yesterday morning my wife woke up to check on them and just couldn't find him anywhere until
    via MermaidofCups
  • she realized he was hiding in the covers of our bed. A terrifying scare. Ever since then she keeps trying to bring him in our bed. We couldn't sleep last night because we were so scared to roll over and squash
    via MermaidofCups
  • him. Unsure what to do? Every time we find him there we move him back to mamas nest, but she is DETERMINED to move him back.
    via MermaidofCups
  • I've read it's a sign of trust which is very sweet, but I've also read it can be a sign something is wrong? I'm a little worried, but baby seems so much healthier than he did... So I'm hoping she just feels safe with us and baby is fine.
    via MermaidofCups
  • Traroten. "Here, you take this. Mama needs some me time." It's not unusual for cats in a clowder to share raising kittens. I think that's what is going on here.
    via Traroten

  • Not only does this kitty trust her human after only a week in her home, she also feels safe. 

    As every cat lover knows, felines aren't exactly the most trusting of critters, often scampering to hide in safety away from the giants and the threats of the world. It makes sense, because a cat in the wild is basically the perfect snack for any predator and there's a lot to be scared of in this big bad world. However, this stray, who had lived a life in fear, was now under the watchful eye of a cat-loving pawtector, and she finally felt at ease in a home that loved her back. 

  • Mysterious_Use3632. She trusts you
    via Mysterious_Use3632
  • Ok-Meal-510928. Check the weight on the kitten, make sure it is going to the bathroom, etc. Guessing it is more just comfort and trust of you, from the pic.
    via Ok-Meal-510928
  • sOckdrawer well, yeah. You're supposed to co-parent
    via sOckdrawer
  • InMyStories • I mean the answer is obvious isn't it ... let them in the bed and y'all sleep in an air mattress, taking turns waking up to check on them hourly. But seriously, bless you for taking mama and baby kitty in and caring for them.
    via InMyStories
  • missym59. I read that cats look at us humans as just big clumsy cats, so she's just trusting you as her nannie's.
    via missym59

  • Humans are the biggest and clumsiest cats out there, yet this stray trusted this particular human to watch over her last surviving kitten. 

    While cats aren't exactly the most meowternal creatures out there, they do still care for their young, so entrusting such a fragile smol thing to the big ol' humans is a big deal, one that prickles the good vibes receptors behind my tear ducts. 

  • DancingWithAWhiteHat I think its unusual for cats to have litters of one. If the mama cat lost the other kittens, she may be anxious. Regardless, you should take both the mama and the kitten to a vet
    via DancingWithAWhiteHat

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

Cats
Scroll Down For The Next Article