Stray cat rescued from 100 degree weather finds comfort in kind person's home, then suddenly becomes distressed, turns out she was warning her hooman about her 6 surprise kittens on the way

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 7, 2026 4:45 PM EDT

Of course she was distressed, she was in labor!

Summer is a difficult time for stray cats. The relentless heat and lack of access to shade and fresh water make each day an effort to simply survive. Some cats are taken care of by neighbors, but others aren't so lucky. If you see a cat outside in the current heat and have room to spare in your garage or a small bathroom, please consider taking them inside, or at least giving them some fresh, cold water.

Thankfully, our stray from Reddit's r/catadvice subreddit found a heartwarming hooman to save her during the inescapable 100-degree heatwave. For the first few days, she was calm, even enjoying her newly found indoor life, until all of a sudden, she started meowing like crazy. Meowing so much that it started disturbing her new hooman's other pets. Unable to get her to a vet, and knowing she couldn't release her back outside, the two just had to wait it out, until it became purrfectly obvious why she was in distress: she was about to give birth to six kittens.

The kittens were delivered healthily, and if it hadn't been for this kind hooman, she and her baby kittens might not have survived. It just goes to show that one small deed can truly make a big change. This hooman didn't just save one life today, she saved seven. And now, these kitty cuties are looking for their furrever homes, and we can all breathe a little easier.

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  • 01
    'You've 100% saved more than one life this week'
    via pupunkkop

    Mama cat nursing her young kittens 
    Model representation of cats - not actual subjects of the story

  • 02
    There was a cat who's been coming around for a while. She's really sweet and was sleeping in my bushes last week. I posted her on all the local pages and checked her for a chip - nothing.
    via betweentwopillows77
  • 03
    It's supposed to over 100F for the next few days so I brought her inside (she kept trying to come in anyway) and put her in a bedroom, away from my other pets. She has a bed, food, water, a litter box, a cat tree and toys.
    via betweentwopillows77
  • 04
    She was good for the first three days but today this normally very quiet cat is crying and meowing like crazy. She's restless and keeps going to the windows and doors like she's trying to get back outside.
    via betweentwopillows77
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10644802304
    via Sloot

    White cat in the afternoon heat 

    Not actual cat represented in the story

  • 06
    Am I doing the wrong thing by keeping her in? It's just so hot out and she *might* be pregnant. My vet can't get her in to check until next week. She's eating, drinking and using the litter box normally. She just seems so unhappy today.
    via betweentwopillows77
  • 07
    It turns out she was not in heat, she was in labor. She delivered 6 kittens yesterday afternoon so I now have a family of 7 living in my spare bedroom. She now has zero desire to leave the room or her babies, so at least that issue is resolved for now. And I'll be calling the vet again on Monday with the update and to talk about when it's safe to spay her.
    via betweentwopillows77

  • After giving birth, it makes sense that she doesn't want to leave her babies. Eventually, she might move them, but for now, she probably just wants to chill and recover from the birth. Plus, she has everything she needs now: her kittens, air conditioning, food, water, and a whole spare room to make her home. Would you want to leave? I certainly wouldn't. She had a tough life up until now, give the lady a few days to rest!

  • 08
    Any other advice on how to proceed is welcome. I honestly have no idea how to care for kittens but she seems to have it handled for now...
    via betweentwopillows77
  • 09
    vemailangah Congratulations on being parent of +7!
    via vemailangah
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10644802560
    via 2002lubava1981

    Newborn kittens with mama cat 

    Subjects are models

  • 11
    Double_Chart_7962 Haha, sometimes it's just like that lol.
    via Double_Chart_7962
  • 12
    If mama is doing good with the babies, all you need to do is keep her well fed. She should be eating kitten food so she gets enough calories for her and the kittens, the entire time she's nursing. Beware that it will make for stinky litter boxes, but it's the best thing for her :3
    via Double_Chart_7962
  • 13
    Joinkyn_go Just imagine if you had not brought her inside. Those poor kittens and her in that heat. You've 100% saved more than one life this week
    via Joinkyn_go
  • 14
    Shot-Advertising-748 Thanks for being a kind human and helping this kitty in a time of great need
    via Shot-Advertising-748
  • 15
    Potatoupe Congrats!! You really saved her at the right time, she had a safe place to have her kittens! I've seen kitten lady on YouTube as a recommendation, but you also still have mama there so that is a big plus.
    via Potatoupe
  • 16
    Few-Explanation-4699 Congratulation. Just let mother cat do her thing. Make sure she has plenty of food and water on hand. A clean litter try. A safe quite place for her with a warm bed. A cover over the bed to make it like a cave.
    via Few-Explanation-4699
  • 17
    Suspicious_Name_8313 Like others have said, take good care of momma and she will do the rest. As a former foster mom, socialization of the kittens is critical for the first weeks, once they are out of the tiny infant stage. Great part about that is kittens are awesome!! Give momma all the loving she needs too. Congratulations and thank you for saving this little family
    via Suspicious_Name_8313

  • Kittens are pretty easy to get adopted - everybody loves kittens! Mama cats, not so much. So, if I were you, I would consider keeping the mama cat after you get her spayed. You went through something special together, and now, you have the awwpportunity to give her a restful and peaceful retirement. It's a gift!

  • 18
    Anna-Livia Mama is here, she has this. Just try to weigh the kittens regularly. As long as they are putting on weight, no need to intervene.
    via Anna-Livia
  • 19
    III-Veterinarian4208 Get kitten food for her. She needs the calories for nursing and healing. Keep dry out constantly, feed her some wet food too, and a large bowl of fresh water, though make sure the kittens can't get to it.
    via III-Veterinarian4208
  • 20
    Tardburgers OMG! I did this very thing two years ago! And she also had six kittens! You don't have to do ANYTHING except make sure she has plenty of food (kitten food, for the milk) and clean litter. Mama kitty will take care of the rest. She
    via Tardburgers
  • 21
    may also move them from their birthing bed, so be on the lookout for her to be taking them out of the nest. Also, when the kittens begin to crawl around, make sure there aren't any nooks and crannies for them to get stuck in or under. put a dresser on risers so that mama could get them out from
    via Tardburgers
  • 22
    underneath it. They also make small litter boxes for kittens, so that they can climb inside, but mama will show them how to use the litter, so your only responsibility is to keep them safe, fed, and clean!
    via Tardburgers

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Tags

stray cats mama cat hot weather cute kittens
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