A shared a slideshow of images documenting the kittens a woman helped raise for ten weeks before finding them forever homes has melted hearts online.

The post shared by u/Crass_Effect begins with a simple act of kindness: “We had been feeding a stray black cat at our front step every day for a few weeks when we noticed that she seemed to be pregnant,” the poster wrote.

With the Canadian winter approaching, the family brought the cat inside, named her Lucy, and took her to the vet to check for a microchip before officially welcoming her indoors.

Two weeks later, Lucy gave birth to four female kittens and one male kitten in the corner of the woman’s office. The family quickly adapted, dividing the house with a temporary fence and converting their basement into a feline nursery.

The kittens were named after sumo wrestlers, and, as the post recalls, “these babies loved to playfight and wrestle (and eventually, to climb pants). They were silly and wild and sweet.”

For ten weeks, the household was consumed by kitten chaos—sleepless nights, scratches, and endless cleaning. Letting them go was bittersweet: four kittens were adopted in pairs, while one joined a home with older cats.

“It was more difficult to let them go than I thought it would be,” she said. “There were a few days when I cried after they had left. I miss them. But I’m so happy we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to give them a good start.”

Lucy, barely out of kittenhood herself, will remain with the family and is scheduled to be spayed.

How to Care for a Pregnant Cat

A stock image of a mother cat feeding her three kittens nestled in a cardboard box with a vibrant red box. | rio agusta/iStock / Getty Images Plus

According to Cats Protection, caring for a pregnant cat requires preparation and vigilance. Experts recommend:

• Feeding kitten food during pregnancy, as it provides the extra nutrients needed for both mother and kittens.
• Creating a nesting area that is quiet, warm, and semi-enclosed—such as a cardboard box lined with clean blankets.
• Avoiding stress and rough handling once pregnancy is confirmed, since lifting or pressing on the abdomen can harm the kittens.
• Keeping the cat indoors during the final two weeks of pregnancy to ensure she has a safe place to give birth.
• Consulting a vet for guidance on nutrition, flea treatments, and the best time to spay after birth.

Reddit Reacts

Lucy’s journey from stray to beloved family member has resonated with many online, earning 12,000 upvotes.

One user shared a similar experience: “We also fed a stray and called her Lucy. She brought her four kittens when they were four weeks old. We took Lucy and the kittens in to socialize them, so they could be adopted. That was in October 2024. None of them left.”

Another replied: “I can see how that would happen! We had a different stray black cat bring her three kittens to us four years ago.”

And one user admitted: “This would 100 percent be me. As I look at these pictures, I thought to myself it’s definitely a stronger person than me who can manage to get them adopted out instead of keeping them all.”

Newsweek reached out to u/Crass_Effect for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.