Vacationers find kitten at the Airbnb in the California desert, their trip turns into a rescue mission to save her from coyotes and give her a furrever home

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Oct 15, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Sometimes your vacation turns into a rescue mission, and that's okay. 

These travelers were taken by the cat distribution system during their stay in the California desert. The little 1.2 lb, 8 week old kitten was hiding near their Airbnb. The California desert can be dangerous. You're smack dab in the wilderness and the chances of a coyote or other predator getting to an innocent animal like a kitten is likely. They did the right thing to take her in. They got her with ham lunchmeat and named her Hamantha, Ham for short. They live in the Pacific Northwest and took her with them. They already have an 11 year old cat, Rigby, and they said that they expect their relationship to be like that of the kid and the old man from Up, which is just adorable imagery. This is not only a story of a couple saving a kitten, but it reminds us of how things could change for us so quickly. One minute you're enjoying yourself on vacation, and the next you're protecting a new kitten from a predator. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10669912576
    via u/rigbylover
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    Cheezburger Image 10669914112
    via u/rigbylover
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    This little girl was hiding near our Airbnb in the California desert. There were no other signs of cats
    via u/rigbylover
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    anywhere in the area, but plenty of coyote signs. She was 6-7 weeks old and only weighed
    via u/rigbylover
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    Cheezburger Image 10669915392
    via u/rigbylover
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    Cheezburger Image 10669912832
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    Cheezburger Image 10669914368
    via u/rigbylover

  • This little grey thing is simply adorable! What would you have done in the situation? Because I have already lost a kitten from coyotes I would be really sensitive to this kitten outside in the open. I would also want to take her in, and it's perfect because they had that ability. They live in the Pacific Northwest, which is a beautiful area. They seem like pretty outdoorsy people and like they do things spontaneously, so it was probably no big deal for them to adopt this little girl. Every kitten saved is meaningful, and there's no reason we shouldn't be taking in more kittens. Even if they couldn't keep her themselves saving her is the best solution to the situation. 

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    1.2lbs, which is the weight of a 5 week old. We attracted her with ham lunchmeat, thus her name is
    via u/rigbylover
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    Hamantha, Ham for short. We have moved her to the PNW with us. She is now 8ish weeks old and
    via u/rigbylover
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    such a love. She has her second vet appointment today and we're hoping for a large weight gain.
    via u/rigbylover
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    She is just now starting to make contact with our 11 year old cat, Rigby. We expect their
    via u/rigbylover
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    relationship to be that of the kid and old man from Up.
    via u/rigbylover

  • I grew up in California, and there's something so special about the deserts there. I've traveled all across the world and been to other deserts, and there's nothing that compares to California. I used to go to insane locations for climbing and canyoneering. Places that no one really trafficked like Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, or the Sierra Nevada's. I went to camp alone in Joshua Tree. I'll never forget the experience because it's so weirdly atmospheric there, it's so ambient and there's an alien feeling there. California is just something else. I spent time in Joshua Tree just wandering around taking photos of the cacti and Joshua trees, I was playing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon on repeat, and for some reason it became the anthem for the trip. I will never forget how special those areas are.

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    Glittering_Mind_9230 I live in the CA desert and am keenly aware how
    via u/Glittering_Mind_9230
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    stray/unhomed/lost cats do not survive long out here due to coyotes. She's
    via u/Glittering_Mind_9230

  • Coyotes really do love kittens, huh? When I was little my parents got me a kitten. I was 5 years old and her name was Spooky, she was an adorable void. One day I came home and they told me that Spooky was taken by coyotes. My whole backyard was like a big hill, all nature and a lot of wildlife. It made sense because she got out, but it really affected me. 

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    already a fighter . I'm glad the CDS helped her find a good safe home with you
    via u/Glittering_Mind_9230

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california Random Acts Of Kindness Cat distribution system Cats
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