The cutest rollie pollie kitten named Winnie is melting hearts for those following self-described Brookly “cat wrangler” Heidi. When she rescues cats and kittens, they go to “Chez Heidi” and begin the VIP Life. But the cats are often in dangerous and dire circumstances when found.
When rescuers arrived in early July, they understood there was a litter of kittens inside a dilapidated building. There, the mother cat, barely older than a kitten herself, was hiding a litter inside a basement ceiling. But at some point, the mama decided to separate Winne from the others and then ignored her for eight hours.
Rollie Pollie Winnie in foster care. Images and media, Heidi Wrangles Cats, Instagram
Winnie was Rejected By Her Mother
Inside, they found Winnie in a box and tried to reunite her with the mother cat. Generally, it’s best kittens remain with the mom if possible. But she wanted no part of Winnie, batting her away. It’s heartbreaking but not uncommon, particularly when young cats begin having babies of their own.
“It’s a common misconception that every mom cat wants to be a mom and loves her kittens,” Heidi shared on Instagram. “In reality, mom cats often reject and sometimes even kill their kittens. This is just one example of that. I’m glad to have been able to interview to save this kitten, but the reality is that these kittens should have never been born. Mom is only 6 pounds, barely older than a kitten herself. This is one of many reasons why we spay and spay abort ❤️💔.”
Later, the rescuers would return, and another person would foster the remaining babies and mother cat. But for now, Winnie was off to Chez Heidi where she would receive experienced care.
Warning: The video below may be disturbing for some viewers.
Winnie Goes to Chez Heidi
On July 4th, we see Winnie was safe in Chez Heidi. She had a heating disk and bottle and a plush cat with a heartbeat called a Calmeroo cat. Heidi kept very close watch because sometimes mother cats reject kittens due to unseen health problems. But to look at Winnie, she was just plain adorable.
“She’s a chonky girl right now and hoping to keep her that way! Though I’m definitely nervous about an underlying issue with her health that would have made mom reject her. Send us all the fat healthy vibes!”
Two days later, Winnie is “the definition of rollie pollie,” so she’s doing great! Watching her provides a 38 second-dose of serotonin we all need.
The video by Heidi shares “Things Winnie loves:”
- Belly rubs
- Her Calmeroo mommy
- Her bottle
The video below is just too cute for words:
Rollie Pollie Kitten Gets New Foster Mom
As rollie pollie Winnie was doing well, she went to a new foster mom named Katelyn. It was bittersweet for Heidi, but she had many other Brooklyn kittens needing help. Also, it made Katelyen’s “bottle baby dreams come true” to take care of the cutie, she said on Instagram.
From that day, “Win” would need round-the-clock bottle-feeding every three hours and medicine for weeks. Not to mention, the foster mom would check on her furbaby constantly. Since Winnie had fleas, she was likely troubled by parasites, but Katelyn said the kitten handled the treatment and flea baths “like a champ.“
Note: Katelyn’s story section about Winnie is a great example of what you can expect if you’re interested in fostering kittens. Generally, you start with furbabies who have had a good start, such as that provided by the experienced Heidi. But it often brings more challenges to overcome than you anticipate. As you overcome each one, you gain confidence and invaluable experience.
“I’m so proud of how far Winni’s come –messiness, sleep deprivation, illness, feeding challenges, and all. She’s the most lovable little lady,” Kaelyn shared.
When Winnie was four weeks old, the foster mom tried offering some wet food, but the kitten preferred cuddles and the bottle instead.
Images and media by Katelyn Mirabelli/ Instagram
Honest to Goodness Kitten
But before long, Winnie grew “from a rollie pollie/sweet potato to an honest to goodness kitten.” She had her own playpen area and began litter training. Then, she had a new adventure daily, like seeing a string toy for the first time and getting the “mini-zoomies.”
Each day, Winnie grows and provides more sweet moments for her foster mom and fans. She’s still bottle-feeding, but like other kitties, she’ll grow in the blink of an eye. You can see more on her foster mom’s Instagram. And follow Heidi Wrangles Cats for more rescues in the Brooklyn area.
