After losing her only kitten, one heartbroken mama cat found comfort in the sweetest possible place — curled up beside her best friend and a brand-new litter of tiny babies.
Penny and Cherry have been close since they were kittens themselves, and their bond appears to have only grown stronger as they became mothers.
The two cats were pregnant around the same time, but sadly, Penny’s only kitten did not survive. Cherry, meanwhile, welcomed three healthy kittens of her own.
Instead of keeping her distance, Penny began spending time with Cherry and the newborns.
Videos shared by Pearl’s Ragdolls show Penny climbing into the cozy kitten area, snuggling alongside Cherry and helping care for the babies as though they were partly her own.
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The two longtime feline friends appear completely comfortable sharing the tiny kittens between them. Penny has been seen cuddling, grooming and even helping nurse the babies, while Cherry seems perfectly happy to have the extra set of paws around.
It’s an especially touching sight considering what Penny had just gone through.
Pearl’s Ragdolls explained that Penny and Cherry grew up together and have always gotten along well. That long friendship may help explain why Cherry seems so relaxed about letting Penny join her little family.
And while the sight may look unusual, cats are actually capable of sharing motherhood duties.
Researchers have documented female cats nursing and caring for kittens together, particularly when the mothers already have a close social bond. That can include grooming, keeping the kittens warm and allowing another mother to nurse them.
For Penny, however, the arrangement feels especially sweet.
After losing her own baby, she suddenly has three tiny kittens to cuddle, watch over and shower with affection — while Cherry gets a trusted friend to help with mom duty.
The pair have since continued raising the kittens side by side, and recent updates from Pearl’s Ragdolls show the little family still spending plenty of time together.
Sometimes the best kind of healing comes from having a good friend nearby.
For Penny, that friend just happened to come with three very fluffy little bundles of joy.