HUNTINGTON, NY — Chloe and Smudge, a young mother cat and her tiny daughter rescued from a street corner in Lindenhurst, are this week's Huntington adoptable pets of the week.
Their story began in the blazing summer sun, Grateful Paw Cat Shelter said.
"Imagine being just one year old, a new mother with a tiny two-week-old baby, and suddenly finding yourself stuffed into a basket on a table," the shelter said. "Cars and trucks are rushing by. There is constant noise, confusion, and nowhere to hide."
At the beginning of June, Chloe and Smudge were being sold for $250 on a Lindenhurst street corner, along with another mother cat and her five babies, according to the shelter.
Grateful Paw said volunteers could only imagine the fear Chloe felt. She was barely more than a kitten herself, but she was responsible for protecting her newborn.
A truck driver saw what was happening and contacted a local rescuer, the shelter said. Before the rescuer went to retrieve Chloe and Smudge, Grateful Paw was asked whether it could help.
"Of course, we said yes," the shelter said. "How could we hear a story like this and turn them away?"
Chloe and Smudge were taken to the shelter's veterinarian for a thorough checkup, then placed into foster care. For the first time, the shelter said, the mother and baby had "a warm, safe bed, plenty of food, and someone who cared about them."
Chloe needed time to adjust.
"We can only imagine what she had been through before being shoved into that basket," the shelter said.
She had to learn where the litter box was and where she was supposed to sleep. Eating, however, was not a problem, according to Grateful Paw.
"She was probably terribly hungry, and she hovered over her baby, constantly watching out for her," the shelter said.
Then there was Smudge.
The tiny kitten gave everyone a scare early on, Grateful Paw said. As an only kitten, she was slow to develop. Her back legs stretched out behind her, and she could not walk at 4 weeks old.
The shelter wondered whether Smudge might have swimmer syndrome, but its veterinarian advised giving her time.
"She would figure it out," the shelter said. "And she did."
With encouragement, physical therapy and a determined foster mother who refused to give up on her, Smudge slowly strengthened her back legs and learned to move.
Eight weeks later, the shelter said, no one would know Smudge ever had a problem.
Today, Smudge is a "tiny black firecracker," according to Grateful Paw.
She is alert, curious, playful and always ready for her next adventure. She has a good appetite, though she prefers dry food to canned food and makes "some pretty impressive sound effects" while crunching her kibble, the shelter said.
Smudge loves toys with balls and bells, especially noisy ones.
"The louder, the better as far as Smudge is concerned," the shelter said.
She can spend hours chasing her own tail and inventing new ways to entertain herself. She is also a climber.
A playpen was set up after her second day in foster care to keep her contained while she learned about the litter box. Smudge quickly figured out how to escape.
"At only 8 weeks old, she keeps everyone on their toes," the shelter said.
The litter box also took some trial and error. Shredded paper, regular litter, pine pellets and corn litter did not work, the shelter said. Smudge treated the crunchy corn litter more like a snack than a bathroom.
Her foster mother eventually found that newspaper pellets worked best, especially with a little bitter apple added to discourage Smudge from eating it.
Once that issue was solved, Smudge moved on to exploring the rest of the house.
She discovered the closet and figured out how to climb to the top shelf, where she curls up on piles of clothes that she apparently considers "her personal collection of luxury pillows," the shelter said.
She also loves climbing into bed with her foster mother and curling up on her pillow after playing with her hair.
Through all of Smudge's adventures, however, one constant remains: Chloe.
"Chloe is an absolute love bug," the shelter said.
The young mother cat is sweet, affectionate and loves being petted from the top of her head to the tip of her tail. When she gets attention, she will roll over and show her belly, according to Grateful Paw.
Chloe is only about 1 year old and is a gorgeous tiger cat with copper-colored eyes, the shelter said.
"She also loves posing for the camera — as though she knows exactly how beautiful she is," Grateful Paw said.
Chloe is also playful. Her favorite toy is the laser pointer. When she is not chasing it, she enjoys sitting high on the cat tree, looking outside and surveying the property, the shelter said.
Even devoted mothers need a break, and when Smudge's energy becomes too much, Chloe heads for the highest point in the room to get away from her daughter.
Smudge, however, does not always appreciate her mother's need for space.
"If Smudge can't find Chloe, she starts crying," the shelter said.
Although Chloe has been spayed and is no longer nursing, she continues to care for Smudge and watch over her.
Chloe and Smudge are expected to come into the shelter at the end of September, according to Grateful Paw. Chloe is ready for the next chapter, but the shelter is trying to find another single kitten to foster with Smudge so she can have a playmate and learn "proper cat etiquette" before arriving with the other kittens.
"Because Smudge has already proven that she has a mind of her own," the shelter said.
Both Chloe and Smudge have tested negative for FeLV and FIV and parasites. Their eyes, ears and hearts have been checked by the shelter's veterinarian.
Chloe is up to date on vaccinations, spayed and microchipped. Smudge will be spayed, microchipped and brought up to date on everything she needs at the end of September.
Grateful Paw said it would love for Chloe and Smudge to be adopted together, but understands that may not always be possible. If they are adopted separately, Smudge must go to a home with another cat or kitten close to her age.
"After everything this little girl has been through, we don't want to create another painful separation for her," the shelter said.
Chloe and Smudge's story began with "a hot street corner, a frightening basket, and a price tag," Grateful Paw said. But volunteers said the mother and daughter deserved safety from the start.
"Chloe and Smudge are not commodities," the shelter said. "They are a loving mother and daughter who deserved safety from the very beginning."
Chloe deserves a soft bed, gentle hands, sunny windows and a family who will adore her, the shelter said. Smudge deserves a family who will appreciate her giant personality, curiosity, noisy toys, climbing skills and determination.
"Most of all, they deserve a forever home that bears absolutely no resemblance to that basket on the street corner," Grateful Paw said.
Those interested in meeting Chloe and Smudge can contact Grateful Paw Cat Shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org or follow the shelter's Facebook page for updates.
The shelter is located at 3 Verleye Ave. in East Northport. Shelter hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with Thursday evening visits from 7 to 9 p.m. by appointment.
"Their journey began in a basket," the shelter said. "Let's make sure it ends in a home."
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