A kitten who was the “spiciest” in his litter, turned out to be quite the teddy bear.
Late last month, three kittens were brought to the Orange County Animal Shelter in need of rescue. The trio was very timid around people, cowering fearfully in a corner.
Baby Kitten Rescue (BKR), a rescue group in Los Angeles that saves critical care kittens and at-risk kittens, offered their help. “The kittens were extremely terrified, unsocial, hissy, and spitty. It was clear they either had no previous human interaction or if they did, it was not positive,” Jamie, a foster volunteer of the BKR, told us.
“I knew that underneath their rough exterior were just scared little babies wanting to feel safe, cared for, and loved.”
The kittens were aptly named after spices—Wasabi (seal point), Ginger (torbie), and Pepper (tuxedo). They were estimated to be six weeks old. From the beginning, they stayed as a cohesive clowder, keeping each other comfortable.
The only brother, Wasabi, harnessed the most sass despite his tiny stature. “Wasabi was the spiciest. It was like he took it upon himself to be the protector of the group. He was also the king of the side-eye,” Jamie shared with us.
When socialization commenced, Wasabi and his siblings received their daily cuddle sessions and plenty of treats as rewards. “I wrapped Wasabi up in a burrito, cleaned his eyes, administered some eye meds, and rewarded him with some chicken baby food.”
In just a few days, Wasabi made the biggest strides and no longer tried to bite the hand that feeds him. “While he was still the spiciest of the three kittens, he would fall asleep almost immediately if I swaddled him in a baby blanket.”
Slowly but surely, the kittens started to gain trust for their people. Their demeanors became calmer and the fear in their eyes began to fade.
“After two weeks of socializing, they started purring when I would pet them. It took a lot of time and patience leading up to this moment. I think holding them and feeding them treats is what signaled to them they were safe,” Jamie told us.
With countless hours and tremendous patience, the kittens went from hissing for their lives to tolerating hugs and kisses to mustering enough courage to seek pets and attention from their humans.
Watch Wasabi and his siblings in this cute video:
“They have made such a big transformation from where they were.”
Wasabi, being the most feisty of the three, has made a complete 180. “There was a point in time when I wasn’t sure if Wasabi would ever stop hissing at me and not be scared of me,” Jamie wrote.
Now, he enjoys hanging out with his foster mom on her lap while he purrs up a storm.
“I’m proud of this little dude. He overcame some big fears. He’s not only social but a total lover. He purrs and seems to really love human affection.
“The best way to socialize kittens is with food and play. They must have consistent, positive interactions with humans over a long period of time to build trust and safety.”
The trio has come a long way and is now ready for its next chapter in life.
Wasabi and Ginger share an inseparable bond and will be adopted to their forever home together tomorrow. Their sister Pepper has also been pre-adopted and will spend her happily-ever-after with a loving family of her own.
“They went from hissing, spitting, swatting, and hiding to purring, playing, and even climbing on me,” Jamie shared.
“I find that the spiciest ones are just the most scared, and they usually make the biggest turnaround. I’m seeing that with Wasabi.”
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