The other day, Joseph Cinnante was relaxing at home when an unfamiliar sound drifted in from behind his house.
As a full-time dog trainer and a busy dad, Joseph was used to a lively, noisy environment — barking, laughter, and the general hum of an active household. But this noise didn’t fit. It was faint, high-pitched, and oddly urgent.
“The cries were so faint, they almost sounded fake,” Joseph told The Dodo. “At first, I thought it was just birds or something small in the trees.”
Still, something about the sound tugged at his instincts. Grabbing a friend, Joseph stepped outside into the chilly air. A hailstorm had just passed, leaving the ground slick and the sky still brooding. The two men picked their way through wet grass and debris, following the elusive cries up a slope. The closer they got, the more certain Joseph became that these weren’t bird calls at all.
“As I got closer and could pinpoint the general area, it hit me: That’s a kitten crying,” Joseph said.
Moments later, they found the source — a tiny orange kitten, drenched from the rain and shivering beneath thick brush on the hillside. The little one’s fur clung to his thin frame, and his voice was hoarse from calling out. Joseph froze in surprise. His own cat, Keely, had just given birth to three kittens indoors, all safe and sound. Who was this lonely little stranger?
“My first thought was, ‘How on earth did Keely’s kitten end up all the way out here?!’” Joseph recalled. “But then I saw his eyes were open, he had stripes, and he was definitely older than Keely’s babies.”
Joseph scooped up the kitten, tucking him safely inside his jacket. Once back in the warmth of the house, they gently dried and warmed the tiny feline. But Joseph wasn’t done — if there was one kitten out there, there might be more.
Sure enough, just ten minutes later, they stumbled upon two more kittens huddled together in a small hole nearby, their cries thin but persistent. The rescue became a race against time as Joseph carefully gathered them up.
Then, from further up the hill, another faint mew carried through the damp air. The search stretched on, and nearly an hour after finding the first kitten, Joseph discovered a fourth one, weak and alone.
Despite combing the area, there was no sign of a mother cat — perhaps one of the neighborhood’s elusive barn cats — and the kittens were far too young to survive without care. But Joseph knew exactly who might help.
Inside the house, Keely was nursing her three kittens when Joseph introduced the four newcomers. At first, she was uncertain — her nose twitched, her ears flicked, and her eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar scent.
“You could tell she was confused and not completely comfortable,” Joseph said. “But with a little time and patience, she came around and welcomed them as her own.”
What followed was a heartwarming transformation. Keely curled her body protectively around all seven kittens, grooming them, feeding them, and offering the warmth they desperately needed.
For Joseph, the rescue felt almost fated. He had just launched a non-profit organization aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating shelter dogs — particularly those on euthanasia lists — and finding them loving homes. While kittens weren’t his usual focus, their sudden appearance felt like a sign.
“The week we found these babies, we’d just started our non-profit,” Joseph said. “It felt like the universe was telling us we were on the right path.”
A few weeks later, the once-frail kittens had grown into playful, healthy little adventurers. Four were still awaiting adoption, but Joseph was confident they’d find families soon. Until then, he was content to watch Keely’s unwavering devotion.
“She’s been an incredible mom to all of them — her three and the adopted four,” he said. “Seeing them all together is a reminder of the difference a little compassion can make.”