St. Francis Society Animal Rescue in Tampa, Florida, recently had its hands full when they received a call about a litter of kittens in need of help. Andrea Christian, a volunteer of the organization, leapt into action and made room for the incoming fosters, while her fellow rescuer, Sam, rushed to the location to pick them up. The kitties came from a family who was having some difficult times and could no longer care for them. It was during the rescue that the team discovered that not only were the six kittens in the litter, but also their mother, were all polydactyl. This came as quite a surprise to the rescuers, but they were thrilled to help this unique family of cats.
The family decided to give up the cat mother, her six kittens, and one older kitten from her previous litter. With the help of St. Francis Society Animal Rescue, the rest of their cats (four boys) are getting neutered and vetted so as to stop the cycle. The cat mother was named PolyAnna, and she was loving and protective of her precious six from the start. She chose a box padded with blankets to be the nest for her kittens, so they would be safe in a comfortable enclosure. She spent most of her time with her kittens, nursing them, doting on them and keeping them immaculately clean.
PolyAnna and her kittens are all polydactyl and have extra digits on their paws. While one kitten has a normal toe count on both back paws, some of the littermates sport seven on each paw. The kittens are getting bigger, more active, and playful by the day, keeping their mom on her toes. With their newfound energy, they have figured out how to run, pounce, and climb, and they wrestle each other with all their might.
The buff kitten, the Rock, is a mummy’s boy who clings to PolyAnna and follows her everywhere around the room. He has many tricks to get his mom’s attention, and goofing around is one of them. “The Rock is momma’s best friend. PolyAnna has the most gentle nature.”
At five weeks old, the kittens will start weaning soon. PolyAnna is very patient and gentle with her demanding six, catering to their every whim. She doesn’t mind being swarmed by them all at once and is always sweet as can be. The polydactyl family is thriving in foster care. When the kittens are big enough for adoption (in Tampa, FL), they will be spayed and neutered and start looking for their forever homes.
After raising her last litter, PolyAnna will get to enjoy her life with a family that will love and pamper her endlessly. This is an excellent example of an animal rescue agency dedicating time and resources to vulnerable homeless kittens, ensuring they are well taken care of and find their forever homes. The team at St. Francis Society Animal Rescue has done a terrific job in this case, and we are proud to share their story.
