Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
A Good Samaritan from Las Vegas discovered a newborn kitten in her front yard. A few feet away, she found her siblings who sadly didn’t make it. The cat mom was nowhere to be found, and the lone survivor was in need of critical care.
Nikki Martinez, a TNR (trap-neuter-return) rescuer and fosterer based in Las Vegas, immediately offered to take her. She and her husband (Foster Papi) have spent the last decade rescuing and helping cats and kittens in need. At the time, Nikki’s husband was going through cancer diagnosis, but the couple didn’t hesitate to help.
“She was tiny and frail and we didn’t know what her future held, but we were determined to give her a fighting chance,” Nikki shared with Love Meow.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
They named the kitten Rocky and the little girl made it through her first night with a full belly, in the comfort of an incubator. The couple worked as a team to feed the kitten around the clock, making sure she was warm and loved.
Nikki got up every two hours at night to tend to the kitten for the first week. Rocky gained a voracious appetite and was catching up in size.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
Foster Papi helped bottle feed her whenever he could, and Rocky never failed to put a smile on his face.
At 24 days old, Rocky proudly graduated from her nest and moved into a mini playpen, where she got to exercise her leg muscles. The tiny bundle of fluff was intrigued by all the new toys and tried to catch them all, despite still being a bit wobbly.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
She loved being spoiled like a little princess and demanded snacks (bottle) throughout the day. She kept her foster mom occupied and offered some much-needed comfort when Foster Papi underwent a life-saving surgery, which was a great success.
Once Foster Papi was discharged from the hospital, he couldn’t wait to see his little pride-and-joy and insisted on resuming some of the foster duties. He gave Rocky a bottle and she blissfully gobbled down the food. It was a wonderful moment of two amazing fighters, cheering each other on.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
At five weeks old, Rocky blossomed into an independent little kitty. She discovered her inner sass and was not shy of showing her cattitude. As she became more playful and rambunctious, she began to create all sorts of antics.
Watch Rocky’s journey in this cute video:
Rocky the kittenwww.youtube.com
Rocky loves to play with Foster Papi and will follow him around the house, chasing his feet. She will sit down next to him to offer some purrs and encouragement as if to help him heal.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
It took Rocky a bit longer to learn to eat on her own as she relished bottle time with her foster parents. When she finally decided to eat like a big kitty, Nikki and her husband were so proud.
Rocky has been all about playtime and honing her feline skills since.
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
When it comes time for Rocky to spread her wings and fly, they want to find her the perfect forever home that will cherish her and her diva attitude.
“She is very different than any bottle baby I’ve ever had. She is extremely independent,” Nikki shared with Love Meow. “She was the lone survivor of her litter. She is precious and has truly been a gift to my husband and I as we navigated through his cancer diagnosis and treatment.”
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
After a couple of weeks of searching for the right home, Rocky has her dream come true. She will be moving in with her forever family next week.
“TNR and fostering is our passion. Having the ability to care for kitties in need has been our joy for the past 10 years. For every day we have health and strength, we will continue this work.”
Nikki Martinez @myfosterkittens
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