A truly heartwarming video has stolen the spotlight, showing a kitten with surprising maternal instincts that’s captured the hearts of millions.
The story comes from Ashley Saldana, a Seattle real estate agent, who shared a deeply touching moment of kindness between her 3-month-old cat, Poppy, and a fragile, sick kitten.
Ashley had been entrusted with a litter of newborn kittens to care for as a foster mom. One of them, a 10-day-old ginger kitten named Journey, was in a dire state – extremely sick and unresponsive.
In a moment of uncertainty, Ashley placed him near Poppy, hoping the little one might find some comfort in his final moments, sharing in an interview:
“I decided to put him with Poppy to see if she could at least provide him comfort, knowing he didn’t have much time left.”
What happened next touched her heart in a way she never expected.
Poppy, just a kitten herself, snuggled up to little Journey right away. She gently licked him a few times, as if she instinctively knew he needed comfort.
Soon after, the little kitten began to stir, like he was slowly waking up from a deep sleep. His little paws began to knead into Poppy’s fluffy fur, soaking up the love and safety she was giving him.
The poor little soul seemed to find the comfort and warmth he needed, as Ashley shared:
“It was incredible because not only did Poppy fully embrace him and comfort him immediately, but Journey also perked up and was even making little baby biscuits on her.”
Even though Poppy was so young, she stepped into the role of a mother without a second thought. There was no hesitation in the way she cared for little Journey – she was gentle and tender, treating him as if he were her own.
Ashley couldn’t help but be amazed by Poppy’s natural nurturing instincts, sharing:
“Poppy is just a kitten herself at only 12 to 13 weeks old, but she has fully stepped up as a foster mom to these kittens… She is so gentle and nurturing.”
Sadly, Journey passed away the very next day from ‘fading kitten syndrome,’ a condition that affects newborn kittens, causing them to weaken and pass away despite appearing healthy at first.
But for that one beautiful moment, Journey experienced the love and care he desperately needed. Ashley shared:
“I am thankful he was able to experience that moment.”
The video quickly went viral, gathering over 247,000 likes and more than 2,700 comments. It resonated deeply with viewers who left comments full of emotion, with some saying they were moved to tears by the sweet bond between Poppy and Journey.
One person wrote:
“He definitely felt the love, without one doubt.”
And another added:
“They love better than humans!”
Moments like these show how deep and pure the bond between animals can be. Even though their time together was short, that little moment Poppy gave Journey meant the world.
And it proved that love doesn’t always need to be said – it’s the small, quiet things that mean the most.
I think we could all learn a lot from that kind of unconditional love.