Florida Animal Lover and Vet Rescue Tangled Kittens

Apr 6th 2010

Mary Heath is an ardent animal lover, so when a stray cat from her neighborhood was in need after giving birth to kittens in her yard, Heath jumped on the opportunity to assist, reports the Jackson County Floridian.

"The cat came crying and hollering for help," Heath told Paw Nation, "and then when I picked up one of the kittens, all four came up with it!"

She assumed that the newborns were conjoined at birth, but Dr. Don Kelly, a vet at her local animal hospital told her the good news: They weren't connected by their internal organs or limbs, their umbilical cords were tangled up. Normally when a cat gives birth, she separates the kitten's cords. In this case, the cat didn't do that. Kelly was quoted as saying he's seen similar cases only about six times or so in his career.

The doctor performed a quick procedure on the quadruple kitty combo and they returned home with Heath and their mother that day. Unfortunately, Heath tells Paw Nation, one of the four kittens did not survive the day after the surgery. "My heart was broken," she commented. But the other three are doing well.

Heath is looking for forever homes for these lucky kittens -- and she's hoping that someone will be kind enough to adopt the mother, a stray, as well.