Lucky newborn kitten tossed away like trash found by cat lover who saved her life and became her fluffiest treasure, rescuer says: 'She is a survivor'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 16, 2026 3:30 PM EDT

You know what they say: one purrson's trash is another purrson's treasure.

Here is a list of appropriate things to throw away in a garbage bag: Food scraps, wrapping paper, empty chip bags, scribbled-on pieces of paper, popped balloons, pens that ran out of ink, and your cat's fur after you brush them. You know what's not on this list? A cat. Or a kitten. Or any living creature, for that matter. We'll never understand people who think it's okay to throw away a kitten in a garbage bag and just leave it there. We're not big on punishment, but if there was any action that deserved a harsh punishment, it should be that one.

Discarded like trash, a newborn kitten was thrown away with its umbilical cord still attached, according to our cat lover's story in Reddit's r/Kittens subreddit. The rescuer's quick thinking saved this kitten's life, by bringing to a veterinarian quickly and getting it on kitten formula. It's now two weeks later, the kitten has finally opened her eyes and is now curious about her new home and the hoomans around her. Thankfully, for Harley (the kitten), this story has a happy ending, but this isn't the case with every discarded cat or kitten.

We wrote an article a few days ago about Turkey and its relationship with its stray cats. The cats there are treated with respect, and they even have laws protecting them from crimes against them caused by hoomans. How did they manage this? By declassifying cats as "property" and reclassifying them as "living beings". It's crazy to us that still, in 2026, this isn't the standard everywhere. They may not speak the same language as us, but they still feel and they do not deserve to be discarded like litter.

We hope that one day soon, cats will have hte same universal protections everywhere, and purrhaps, people will learn to be a little kinder.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10638925312
    via MJ_fun
  • 02
    MJ_fun A little info about her: She was on a trash container inside a plastic bag with her umbilical cord still attached.
    via MJ_fun
  • 03
    I took her to the vet straight away and after few tests he concluded that she is 100% healthy. She is on kitty formula and we have a new appointment next week.
    via MJ_fun
  • 04
    It's been 2 weeks since I got her and she finally open her eyes. She is sweet and curious (no wonder why, she is discovering a whole new world)
    via MJ_fun
  • 05
    For some reason she cries when I'm not around but I found out she loves sleeping on my clothes, specially inside my shoes. Guess mom's smell is her comfort blanket
    via MJ_fun

  • This kitten is going to be a clingy one (that's just how we like them). Seeing as the rescuer quite literally saved her life and is all Harley has ever known, she might as well be her mom. Cats don't really “imprint” the way birds do, but if Harley was found so early that she couldn't even open her eyes, it means that the first purrson she saw was the one who decided to take care of her. The love is there, and we can see it. 

  • 06
    My dad named her Harley because she is a survivor, just like his bike haha Last but not least, thank you everyone for such beautiful messages, I red them all to her =)
    via MJ_fun
  • 07

    "This dude was a trash can kitty too. Now he’s my wrestle buddy"

    925doorguy
    via 925doorguy
  • 08
    Careful_Platform182 That is one of the cutest kittens I have ever seen. Looks very very young, look for kitten lady's videos on youtube, she might need formula saving her thank you for
    via Careful_Platform182
  • 09
    Good_Cantaloupe_5172 What a cute kitty! Thank you for rescuing her
    via Good_Cantaloupe_5172
  • 10
    Oat MilkAndPiercings Omg, she has little eyebrows.
    via OatMilkAndPiercings
  • 11

    "I found this baby boy under my deck in the cold mud. So I’m a cat mom now too :)"

    iluvthatforyou
    via iluvthatforyou
  • 12
    just_a_guy_ok Distro system working its magic - you got a cutie!
    via just_a_guy_ok
  • 13
    Pleasant Flounder556 OMGoodness! How could you not we need more people like you!
    via Pleasant_Flounder556
  • 14
    ResurgentClusterf k Trash kittens are some of the best in my experience
    via ResurgentClusterf**k
  • 15
    NoNote4110 I'm glad and happy you took that baby in! I wish others like you and I would do that no baby kitty's should live that way! I'm proud of you!
    via NoNote4110
  • 16
    Kozmic_Stardust People are so horrific. We found this little doodoo head in the dumpster. We've had Pumpkin for a year now. I believe he's an orange maine /domestic shorthair hybrid. Beautiful boy.
    via Kozmic_Stardust
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    Cheezburger Image 10638930432
    via Kozmic_Stardust
  • 18

    (Story below)

    thetarbox
    via thetarbox
  • 19
    This is our trash cat lol. He's been with us a month. My husband found a litter under an apartment complex in sewage. His apprentice adopted the mama cat after one of the kittens d d and another lost an eye :(((. I'm wildly allergic but my daughter named him Mike and he loves her so I keep my hives to myself lol.
    via thetarbox
  • 20
    CatWrangler755 The CDS has deemed you worthy. This is a great honor to have her so young. Serve her well! She's gonna be a stunning kitty!
    via CatWrangler755

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cat rescue kitten rescue cute kittens cat lovers
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