Tabby kittens & cats in Herrin, Illinois

A mom and six babies showed up at our house and the mother disappeared. We live on a highway and have lost 4 kittens to the roadway. The remaining two females were brought into our home. They have been spayed and have their rabies shot. I already have three inside cats and a yellow lab inside our home. These kittens are about 9 months old and have adjusted fairly well to indoor living. They are a bonded pair, and we would want them to go to the same household. They could be inside or barn cats. They have both adapted to indoor living but still are quite alert and quick to respond to movement. I'm assuming this is instinct from being in the wild as babies. Tammy has lighter markings on her face and is a bit smaller than Loretta. Tammy enjoys sitting with me on the couch in the evening and sharing popcorn. She is very vocal and will talk to you as long as you want to pet and talk to her. Loretta is a more serious kitten. She does enjoy playing and lots of pets. She too is very vocal.

Oh, Rosalee. 💙 Rosalee came to us alongside Nora and Rhett, two other kittens who also found their way to animal control alone, without their littermates. Animal control told us Rosalee had been found in a ditch and brought in by a concerned citizen. She was sick, frail, and understandably scared. We nursed her back to health and quickly learned something very important about Rosalee: she is a shy girl through and through. Rosalee usually prefers to keep about four feet between herself and people, and if you approach her too quickly, she will make a very polite exit. 😹 She even has the cutest little cringe when offered pets, which somehow only makes us love her more. We have known many cats like Rosalee over the years. Some take months, and some take years, before they begin seeking affection, lying beside their people, and truly relaxing into a home. They may never become cats who enjoy being picked up, and that is okay. If you are looking for an instant lap cat, Rosalee is probably not your girl. But if you understand that love can look different for every cat, she may be exactly the kind of special companion you are looking for. Rosalee absolutely loves playing with her Thistle Cat kitten friends, and wet food dinner is one of the highlights of her day. Because of her shy personality, we know there is a chance she may remain a forever Thistle Cat. But we also know there may be someone out there who will love her exactly as she is and give her all the time in the world to feel safe. Rosalee does not need to be changed. She just needs to be understood. 🐾💙

Lucky’s story starts with being left behind. 💙 Lucky and his littermates were put outside and abandoned when their previous owner moved away. Neighbors at the apartment complex kept an eye on them and tried to find help, but before a rescue could step in, Lucky suffered a serious injury to his leg. His finder and guardian angel rushed him to the veterinarian, where we learned that euthanasia was being considered because of the expected cost of treatment. Thistle Cat stepped in. Lucky’s leg was severely swollen, and X-rays revealed a small round object near what appeared to be a puncture wound. During exploratory surgery, the object was removed. It was a pellet. Lucky had been shot. We splinted his leg and started pain medication, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and routine laser therapy, hoping desperately that his leg would heal and an amputation could be avoided. For weeks, we treated and rewrapped his leg. Unfortunately, it did not improve. Lucky initially still had sensation in his paw, but eventually that sensation disappeared. At that point, amputation became the kindest option. And now? Lucky is quite possibly the cutest little tripod you will ever meet. 🐾 He has an incredibly unique little meow, a huge personality, and absolutely no idea that he is missing a leg. Lucky is a wild man who loves racing around and playing with the other Thistle Cat kittens. Lucky must be adopted into a home with another playful cat or dog or he can be adopted alongside another Thistle Cat. Tripod cats can live long, happy, active lives with remarkable mobility. However, Lucky must be an indoor cat or have only secure, supervised outdoor access, because having three legs can make it harder to escape predators and other dangers. If you’re looking for a hilarious, playful, resilient little guy with three legs, one very special voice, and enough personality for four cats, Lucky might be your boy. And you may want to hurry. These tripods have a funny way of stealing hearts and being adopted much faster than four legged cat friends. 💙🐱

How can we even begin to put Nora into words? We lovingly describe her as aggressively affectionate. 😹💕 Nora will circle your lap, rub her face all over you, and purr so loudly that it turns into the cutest high-pitched rumbling meow. When she wants love, trust us, you’ll know! Like many Thistle Cats, Nora came to us from our local animal control facility on the very day she was scheduled to be euthanized. She had arrived there alone, so she was paired with two other single kittens around her age. Nora was incredibly sick with an upper respiratory infection when we took her in. After weeks of antibiotics, eye medication, lots of monitoring, and making sure she continued to eat, she finally started feeling better. And little by little, her confidence and huge personality came bursting through. Now there is absolutely no stopping her, or that adorable little voice she uses whenever she decides she needs something! Nora is playful, loving, social, and looking for a home with another playful cat or dog, or she can be adopted alongside another playful Thistle Cat kitten. If you’re looking for a cat who believes there is simply no such thing as too much affection, Nora might be your girl. 🐾💙