Mama cat Java found herself at the county shelter with four little coffee bean kittens, all with coffee-inspired names. The family of kitties was so lucky to find a rescuer willing to take them all in with foster mom Meg who fosters with a local Tampa rescue.

Although the shelter said Java was a stray cat, she was not feral but friendly and loving. Even though it’s always unfortunate that cats and kittens need rescue, the situation this time was optimal. The kittens would have the best chance with their mama already well-adjusted, not as stressed out, or on the defense.

Only Hazel was a little girl with three caffeinated brothers. The kittens came in a wide assortment of flavors and fur colors, and Java’s green eyes were so beautiful.

“Java and her kittens were brought to me a few days ago from our county shelter. Today her kittens are five days old. The shelter says Java was taken in as a stray but she is a very sweet and friendly kitty. She’s being such a good mama to her babies  ”

At eight days old, the family was happy and thriving. The little beans were still so tiny they hadn’t been visited by the eyeball fairy yet. For fosterers, seeing those eyes open is always a magical, unforgettable moment.

“Java’s babies are 8 days old today!   in this next week, they’ll start opening their eyes  ”

Flash forward to 25 days old, and the kittens’ eyes were wide open. They were also beginning to learn “how to cat” for the first time. The kitten caffeine kicked in, and they were full of energy, playful, and rollie-pollie.

“The kittens are 25 days old today and transitioning from the ‘sleep 24/7’ stage to the ‘learning how to be kittens’ stage  .”

By the end of the month, the kittens continued purrcolating but the smallest, Hazel, was the boldest brew. She actively sought out her foster mom and explored her world while her little brothers occupied themselves with wild and incredibly adorable wrestling matches.

While they played, Hazel began eating wet food, learned to drink water from Java, learned what the scratching post was for, and climbed to Meg’s lap all by herself.

“Although Hazel is the smallest of the litter, she is so smart and determined. She’s always the first to seek me out when I go into the foster room. She has such a precious little soul  ,” Meg wrote.

Watching Java and her coffee beans is as satisfying as drinking hot coffee on a rainy Monday morning. Does this make you wonder about trying to foster kittens yourself? If so, contact your local shelter or rescue and ask how to start get things brewing. Note: You may need lots of actual coffee with bottle babies since kittens without their mama will require round-the-clock feeding at regular intervals for at least four to eight weeks. But the payoff is saving lives knowing they will bring a daily fix of purrs to their families for a lifetime.