A Tale of Six Kittens Pt. 1: Marshmallow [4]

November 15, 2016

Michelle says: I volunteer at three local cat rescues in the Bay area, fostering, taking photos, and helping out in any way I can. One of the many litters I have fostered over the years consisted of six adorable kittens: Marshmallow, Strawberry Shortcake, Avalanche, Blueberry Muffin, Rusty, and Peep. They were the result of another sad story about a nonferal cat that hadn't been fixed. People really need to learn more about the benefits of spay/neuter. It reduces the risk of certain kinds of cancer. Even if you have an "indoor-only" cat, it reduces the tendency to want to get out and wander. If done young, it reduces or eliminates spraying. And you won't hear yowling since it won't go into heat.

In this case, a cat had kittens in someone's backyard and one of the volunteers went to the house and grabbed the kittens. Another volunteer went back and trapped, spayed, and released the mom cat. The folks who found them agreed to feed the mom until she found her way home or moved on. The kittens were shy, but not so much -- a surprise given how hissy and protective mom was. I treated them, bottle-fed them for about a week, and taught them to eat wet and dry food and to use the litter box. Marshmallow, a little boy, was the first of the litter to be adopted. I never heard an update from the adoptive family, but he was adopted along with another of my fosters from a different litter to a home that already had a rescued cat in residence. The family was in love with these kittens, and the kittens flopped all over their daughter. Very cute.

All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Michelle Peters Spivack

Michelle volunteers for 13th St. Cat Rescue, IBOK Rescue and Paws for SJACS
IBOK Rescue is in great need of bottle-feeding foster homes in the San Jose, CA, area. Click for info.

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Comments and LOLs:

elly - 7 years, 6 months ago

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866 points

Such a gorgeous beauty !

Natthecat - 7 years, 6 months ago

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∞ points

Really a doll! I mean, is Marshmallow for real?This is the cat every princess in a fairy tale imagines will be hers.

A Walkaway - 7 years, 6 months ago

So precious! What a beautiful cat!

Please, I must repeat the call for spay and neuter, plus state that in some areas (like this hellhole), people get kittens, don't get them fixed, and then drop them off in poor neighborhoods. We have too many cats because of it - and the shelters in this county are quick-kill (even the ones advertising "no kill") - and this county is notoriously hostile to cats anyway (some preachers have even given sermons like "Cats are the Devil's pet!").

Yet people turn on US (the people who are poor and care about animals) and scream at US about the kitties, even though, out of our pockets and very limited income, we get the ones we rescued fixed and their shots. We aren't made out of money and WE DID NOT DROP THE PREGNANT NEAR-KITTENS OFF ON OURSELVES. (They don't realize the sweet cats they've missed out on!)

Please, tell your comfortable neighbors to take responsibility for their pets and stop shoving THEIR responsibility off on the people who can't afford it!

mma - 7 years, 6 months ago

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1405 points

I hope you demand kitty kisses from all these kitties you foster, Michelle; I know you give them!

Kristine - 7 years, 6 months ago

he is pretty. he's not deaf is he? I've heard that white kittens/cats with blue eyes are born deaf.

judymack812 - 7 years, 6 months ago

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∞ points

All of Michelle's pictures are always spectacular and so is Marshmallow. Happy life little one..not so little anymore..

jezebel1490 - 7 years, 6 months ago

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477 points

Wow, that face! And I love the names :D

TigerPJ - 7 years, 6 months ago

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893 points

Marshmallow is so handsome ... I love all of the kitties names. xo

ln - 7 years, 6 months ago

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161 points

This boy is amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. I hope he has a long and happy life with his family. I have always wanted a pure white cat and yet I keep getting black ones. Well I guess they come to me for a reason.

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