Lisa Miller’s home in Southern California has always been a place where cats ruled the roost. Already sharing her life with two felines, Jada and Sochi, she opened her doors to foster a tabby named Lily.
Lisa believed fostering would only be temporary, that Lily would soon charm her way into another family. In a way, she was right—but not quite how she expected. Jada and Sochi quickly adored her, and before long, Lisa herself fell under Lily’s spell.
What was supposed to be a short foster stay turned into a permanent one. Lily became the princess of the house.
Not long afterward, Lisa discovered she was pregnant. Thrilled at the thought of welcoming her first child, she also worried about how her cats—especially Lily—would adjust to the newest family member.
Her Greatest Comfort
During Lisa’s pregnancy, Lily (affectionately nicknamed Tiny Tiny) and her cat siblings stayed loyally by her side. They provided comfort through the ups and downs of nine emotional months.
When Lisa felt well, Lily celebrated with her—curling up for cuddles and sharing her joy. On Lisa’s hardest days, however, especially after receiving the devastating news of her mother’s serious illness, Lily became her rock.
“The only thing that gave me comfort was my Tiny Tiny,” Lisa shared with The Dodo. “Those dark, lonely nights crying on the bathroom floor … she was right there, licking my tears and pain away.”
Through every moment of grief and anticipation, Lily never left Lisa’s side, helping her find strength as she prepared for motherhood.
The Cutest Little Intruder
When baby Lucy finally arrived, Lily seemed delighted. She appeared eager to shower her new baby sister with affection, dreaming of the days they’d play and snuggle together.
Still, Lily sometimes couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy seeing Lucy in Lisa’s arms.
Lisa quickly noticed the shift and acted right away.
“I carried her all day and now I’m carrying the baby all day, so I had to make sure Lily was still getting all the love and attention she was used to,” Lisa explained. “I started including her in all of the daily things that I did with the baby, and I carried them both.”
From then on, Lily slowly stepped into her role as big sister. She wasn’t quite ready to romp around with Lucy yet, but she kept a watchful eye on her during playtime and always tried to be near when the baby slept.
It was this nurturing instinct that set the stage for one unforgettable moment.
A Heart-Melting Moment
Lisa knew Lily’s favorite place to nap was on her lap while Lucy slept nearby. But one afternoon, Lisa decided to let Lucy nap in her room for a change. Of course, she kept the baby monitor close to make sure everything was fine.
Then she glanced at the screen—and froze.
“When I first looked at the monitor, my heart jumped out of my chest!” Lisa recalled. “I didn’t realize Lily had snuck in when my husband put her down.”
At first, panic set in. She thought about rushing into the room to move Lily immediately. But within seconds, her concern softened. The sight before her was simply too precious: the cat and the baby, curled up peacefully side by side.
What touched Lisa even more was Lucy’s reaction when she woke up. Instead of fussing, she lit up with joy at the sight of her furry sister snoozing next to her.
That moment marked the beginning of a beautiful bond. From then on, Lily took her role as Lucy’s protector and companion seriously.
For Lisa, the sight of her daughter and her once-foster kitty sharing such a tender connection was everything she had ever hoped for.
“Lily isn’t just a cat,” Lisa said. “She’s one hundred percent heaven-sent.”