Someone discovered two little fluffy forest sprites, Bug and Burr, alone in a forest sanctuary in the Chicago suburbs. At around three weeks old, the adorable kittens were all alone. Their mother had disappeared into the woods and sadly never returned.
Possibly, their mother had to quickly move their siblings and then lost sight of Bug and Burr. She may have wandered too far, hunting for food and getting into trouble. But who knows what fate befell them with a million dangers always present.
Cries from the Forest Lead to ‘Bug and Burr’
Luckily, these two defenseless creatures had one advantage: Burr, a silvery black kitten, had a cry so loud it carried across the forest and caught someone’s ear at just the right time.
“Bug and Burr came into the shelter yesterday after being discovered alone in a forest preserve. They were crying loudly and covered in tree sap, seeds, and dirt—a good indication that mom hadn’t been around for a while,” shared the Marigold Kitten Crew.
Bug the kitten found lost in the forest. Images via Instagram/themarigoldkittencrew
A Much Safer Sanctuary for Two Lost Kittens
After the forest proved dangerous, Bug and Burr were extremely lucky someone stopped when they heard Burr’s cries. They soon made their way to a shelter. But crowded shelters can be full of perils for a kitten during “kitten season.” Once again, they proved lucky and became a new foster mom’s “lil bebes.” They needed round-the-clock bottle feeding, a job that crowded shelters are often hard-pressed to accommodate.
“They don’t have teeth yet, but I can feel their little incisors just below the gums, so I’m putting them at around 3 weeks old! Bug was dehydrated and lethargic, but after some supportive care, he’s bouncing back rather quickly. Burr is an energetic little thing, and it was certainly her loud cries that found them rescue!” Alyssa shared.
Burr wrapped in a purrito. Images via Instagram/themarigoldkittencrew
Hungry But Messy Eaters
A week and a half later, the kittens were ravenous little “meat eaters,” weaned from the bottle to wet kitten food. Kitten weaning tends to begin around four weeks, so they were right on time.
“Bug and his sister have officially quit the bottle and are full time meat eaters! So today he got to try a tube of kitten churu (aka kitty crack) and it was pretty darn cute.💕”
Bug licks his lips
The Kitten Hunger Games
After starving in the forest, Bug and Burr were making up for lost time. Unfortunately, Burr was so hungry she got carried away, suckling on her brother. If the behavior is left unchecked, the seemingly harmless action can prove dangerous. Probably due to the suckling, Burr got an upset tummy. For both reasons, she needed to be separated from her brother for a while to be safe.
Caring for foster kittens is always a messy job, but Burr prided herself on being extra messy!
“Burr prides herself in being so very messy, and she’s doing a fantastic job of it! This little 0.7 lb monster had to be separated from her brother for inappropriate suckling and diarrhea (which was most likely a consequence) a while ago. We finally found the right antibiotic for her, and she’s doing soooo much better! It’s fun to watch a kitten start playing and stuffing their face after fixing a medical issue.
Sometimes there really is nothing better than a litter box full of solid poop.💩”
Blue-Eyed Duo Ready for a Fairytale
After an unlikely rescue from the woods, Bug and Burr grew up into blue-eyed mini-cats. But they still looked a touch like something from a fairytale.
“Yes, Bug’s eyes really are that blue.🦋🧵🫐🌊”
When Burr was fully recovered and a bit older, she rejoined her brother, and the two were ready to climb to a fairytale ending, a loving home.
“Bug and Burr, the meezer-panther duo, are full-fledged mini cats now! They climb, they wrestle, they harass me for snacks…But they haven’t yet figured out how to jump the playpen. I am not complaining 😹,” Alyssa said.
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