Cat Ouellette, a volunteer with Room 8 Memorial Cat Foundation in Jurupa Valley, arrived late to feed kittens who needed constant care and to confirm everyone was stable. By the time she finished, it was around four or five in the morning. She settled into her car, ready to head home.
A sudden feeling urged her to take one last look around. She stepped back out to double-check that all was well.
She was not expecting what she was about to find.
A Box That Should Not Be There
As Ouellette rounded her vehicle, she noticed a sealed cardboard box near the passenger side. Heavy tape covered the flaps. On top sat a handwritten note explaining what was inside.
The message said the box held a litter of kittens. The person who left them had found the babies abandoned and could not bring them home because there were dogs in the house.
Room 8 sometimes discovers boxes outside during the day, but finding one at this hour felt alarming.
“People try to do their best, but we try to do our best, too. I’d rather see it there than by a trash can,” Ouellette told The Dodo.
She carried the box inside and opened it carefully. Her heart sank. One tiny kitten had already crossed the rainbow bridge. There was no time to lose. Ouellette warmed the survivors, mixed formula, and assessed each baby for dehydration and lethargy.
The kittens latched on hungrily. They had gone too long without food.
Around-the-Clock Care Begins
With help from other volunteers, Ouellette set up a warm, quiet space. Bottle feedings were scheduled every few hours. Bellies filled, and those small voices grew stronger. Personalities appeared. A few were bold and wiggly. Others tucked in close and purred the moment a gentle hand touched them.
Their story highlights the importance of spay, neuter, and TNR programs for community cats. Preventing a single unplanned litter can spare countless kittens from risky starts like this one.
“This could have been prevented if we just got this mom fixed. That’s where the problem starts,” Ouellette added.
Between feedings, Ouellette and the team socialized the babies. Short play sessions supported coordination. Soft blankets and calm voices offered security. Day by day, the kittens gained weight and confidence.
A Safer Path Forward
Once they are strong enough, the kittens will receive vet checkups and vaccines. When they reach the appropriate age, each will be spayed or neutered and microchipped. In about three months, they will be ready to begin the search for permanent homes.
For now, they are exactly where they need to be. They are warm, fed, and loved. Their rescue also underscores how small choices matter. A late-night hunch led one volunteer to notice a box that might have gone unseen until morning.
Because of that moment of intuition, seven tiny lives received a second chance. With continued care, they will soon be ready to bring joy to the families who welcome them home.