Four Skittish Kittens Were Scared of Everything—Until Two House Cats Took Them In

Two resident house cats welcomed four skittish kittens into their world—and gently taught them how to trust, one paw at a time.

When Jennifer, a volunteer with the Humane Society for Hamilton County, heard about a litter of hissy, unsocialized kittens in need of a foster home, she didn’t hesitate to step in.

The four siblings were part of a group of over 20 kittens recently brought to the shelter—frightened, unsure, and not yet ready for adoption. “The sooner you can start socialization, the better,” Jennifer told Love Meow. “So I took them home.”

But once inside, the kittens froze. They stayed huddled together in their carrier, wide-eyed and terrified, too scared to venture out and explore their new surroundings.

Every time Jennifer approached, she was met with a chorus of tiny hisses. But she knew that the way to a kitten’s heart often begins with a full belly. She gently placed a dish of food inside the carrier and took a step back.

Within seconds, all four kittens swarmed the bowl, too hungry to resist. “It took a few days before they stopped hiding from me,” Jennifer shared. Slowly but surely, the walls began to come down.

“Food, treats, and toys really helped them come out of their shells and realize they were safe,” Jennifer said. “Luigi (the black kitten) and Daisy (the tabby) are still a little skittish and sometimes shy away from me, but they’re making steady progress.”

One evening, Jennifer walked in to find Princess Peach—the dilute tortie—perched proudly on the scale, squeaking up a storm, while Mario, the ginger kitten, stood on his hind legs, reaching up and begging for attention.

As the kittens slowly began to warm up, Jennifer decided it was time to call in reinforcements—her resident cats, Bodie and Bear. The calm, confident duo strolled into the foster room like seasoned pros, while the kittens reacted with wide eyes, puffed-up fur, flattened ears, and extra-fluffy tails.

“Luigi took the longest to let his guard down,” Jennifer noted. He stayed cautious, watching every move, unsure of what to make of the new arrivals.

“After the first few meetings, Luigi decided they weren’t a threat,” Jennifer said.

Mario, the boldest of the litter, was the first to break the ice. He cautiously crept toward Bodie, who greeted him with a big, friendly head bump. The unexpected gesture caught Mario off guard—but it was all he needed to be won over.

Before long, Princess Peach joined the fun, gleefully batting at Bodie’s bushy tail. Not to be outdone, Mario swooped in and claimed the tail as his own personal toy.

With the patience of a saint, Bodie let them go wild—tugging on his tail, climbing on him, even pawing at his face. “Bodie is the sweetest boy,” Jennifer said. He took all their playful chaos in stride, happy to be part of their world.

As the kittens grew more confident, their energy levels soared. They began zooming around the room, scaling cat trees, and turning every corner into a playground.

Bodie often led the way to the food bowl, with little Mario close behind, mimicking his every move like a shadow.

“They’re super playful,” Jennifer said. “They love toys, chasing each other, and wrestling nonstop—it’s like a tiny kitten circus in here.”

The once-feral foursome has transformed into a lively, playful crew. Mario and his sister, Peach—both born without tails—can often be found wrestling or pouncing on Bodie and Bear’s tails, much to everyone’s amusement.

Now, when Jennifer walks in with food, the room erupts into a symphony of squeals and excited meows, each kitten trying to outdo the next—until they’re all face-deep in their bowls, happily munching away.

With a little guidance from their gentle resident role models, these once-scared kittens have discovered what it means to feel safe, loved, and cared for. They’ve learned that humans can be trusted—and that cuddles and treats aren’t so bad after all.

In just a few weeks, they’ll be ready to start the next chapter: finding forever homes of their very own.

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For more updates on the kittens and Jennifer’s adorable fosters, follow @newkittensontheblock on Instagram.

And don’t miss the incredible work of the Humane Society for Hamilton County @hamiltonhumane.

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