Everyone who knows Rose Hunter from Lincoln, Nebraska, is well aware of her deep love for houseplants.
She is a regular at Campbell’s Nursery in town, and it was during one of her usual trips there that something extraordinary happened. Instead of leaving with just another plant for her collection, she ended up walking away with something far more precious — a tiny life in need of saving.
An Unexpected Discovery
On her way back from Campbell’s Nursery at 56th and Pine Lake in Lincoln, Hunter noticed something odd on the pavement.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an oil stain on the concrete. But as she got closer, she realized it was something else entirely.
From a distance, it resembled a small, furry clump.
“I was sad thinking it was a baby rabbit,” Hunter shared in a Facebook post.
Curiosity urged her to take a better look, and to her surprise, it wasn’t a rabbit or a squirrel at all. It was alive.
“YOU GUYS IT’S A BABY KITTEN!!! And it is ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe this, and idk what to even do right now,” she wrote.
The kitten was tiny — just a few days old, maybe five at most.
“I felt very exhilarated. Suddenly, my heart rate jumped up as I realized that I needed to do something — but what?” Hunter told The Dodo.
She scooped the fragile kitten up and placed him gently in her car.
Her first instinct was to keep him, but she knew he was still far too young to survive without his mother. Unsure if the mother cat was nearby, she decided to call the nursery to see if anyone had noticed a stray. Unfortunately, no one had.
Not wanting to give up, Hunter returned with the kitten the next morning, hoping his mother would come back for him.
She had already given him a name — Campbell, after the nursery where he was found.
“I took Campbell back to Campbell’s in the area I found him to see if his mom might return. Unfortunately, there was no sign of her. Given how massive that property is, it was a long shot, but at least we tried,” Hunter explained.
Finding The Best Option
With no mom cat in sight, Hunter realized adoption was the only path forward. But after a vet check, it was clear: Campbell was under a week old and simply too young to be raised without a mother’s care.
Luckily, Hunter’s Facebook post connected her to a friend whose mother’s cat had recently given birth. A plan was quickly made for Campbell to join a foster mom cat and her litter.
“I want what is best for him and for him to have the full kitten experience. And this way he can properly learn how to be a cat and socialize with fellow kittens,” Hunter said.
Amazingly, the foster cat, Tully, accepted Campbell right away.
“It was remarkable to watch their first meeting and see him latch onto her for the very first time,” Hunter recalled.
For the next six weeks, Campbell thrived in his foster home. He grew alongside his foster siblings, learning how to play, socialize, and be a kitten. With Tully’s care, plus the support of Hunter and her network, he transformed from a fragile newborn into a lively little ball of energy.
When the time came for him to leave foster care, Hunter didn’t hesitate for even a second.
“There was no question about it. Honestly, within a minute after discovering him, I was like, ‘Okay, so your name is obviously going to be Campbell’,” she told The Dodo.
Today, Campbell is happy, healthy, and full of life at the Hunter household. He’s a silly, playful kitten who brings endless joy to his new mom.
The strange little lump in a parking lot turned out to be so much more than Rose Hunter could’ve expected. It was the beginning of a bond that will last a lifetime.