Earlier this year, a litter of five kittens was brought to Meow Parlour, a cat café and animal rescue in New York City, in the hopes of finding a better life. One of Meow Parlour’s founders, Christina Ha, took them in and began providing round-the-clock bottle-feeding to the kittens. Under her care, the kittens thrived and were eventually sent to Molly, a rescue volunteer, for socialization once they were weaned. Molly, who works as a teacher, involved her fifth-grade students in the fostering process, giving them a window into her world of animal rescue. The students eagerly helped name the kittens, choosing Kanta, Mei, Totoro, Satsuki, and Kiki after characters from a Japanese anime film. Today, these once-orphaned kittens have grown into strong lap cats with much love to give.
As soon as Molly sat down, a pack of kittens immediately swarmed onto her lap. She quickly realized that by sitting on the floor, she could easily attract a cluster of adorable, purring felines.
The felines were a friendly bunch and loved the company of people. Whenever I got back home after classes, I’d sit down on the floor and they’d all rush to snuggle up on my lap. It was quite entertaining to see how they continued to do so even as they grew older,” recounted Molly. The kittens quickly got used to this routine and would gather around, eagerly waiting for their turn to cuddle.
Without any hesitation, these playful kittens would stretch their liquid-like bodies over Molly’s legs or embrace them with their arms. Over time, these feisty little furballs transformed into lovable lap cats and affectionate snuggle buddies. In the absence of Molly’s lap, they would take over the spacious bed and fill the entire room with the sound of their happy purrs. Whenever Molly picked up a broom to clean the room, the kittens would eagerly race in as a clowder to lend a paw and offer their “assistance.”
After helping their owner with various tasks, the five furry companions would eagerly snuggle up on Molly’s lap for some much-needed cuddle time. When they weren’t playing, they enjoyed relaxing with their favorite human. Molly wrote an essay about how Kiki, in particular, often sat in a dignified and gentlemanly way, expressing his happiness to be with her.
Mei had always been the smallest among her siblings, which made her determined to gain a little weight. She became fixated on eating and sleeping in order to put on just two pounds! Now that she has, Mei is playful and chubby like her siblings.
Satsuki, on the other hand, is a snuggle bug who will contort herself into any position to be close to her human. When you stroke her soft belly, she’ll roll onto her back and purr contentedly.
Kanta is always seen nonchalantly leaning on his owner or shoes, while Totoro is a bold explorer who loves to nuzzle you with her damp nose. Molly has made plans to ensure that the litter of five will be placed in loving homes where they can enjoy playing and cuddling with their new companions once they are old enough for adoption.
In a jiffy, Satsuki and Mei found the perfect home they would share together. Molly expressed her contentment about how these two furry friends had a special bond, despite being best buds with all five cats. Their friendship will always endure, and that thought brought relief to Molly.
