Student’s cat unexpectedly gives birth

SSabrina Bartley, psychology junior, just had an Easter miracle.

Bartley’s emotional support animal, a cat named Lyra, came into their life at the end of January.

“She was only about nine months when I got her, and when I took her to the vet, they said she was pretty small for her age because she was a rescue,” Bartley said. “As time went on, she was getting healthy and actually looked like a normal cat size now.”

However, Bartley said on April 2 they came home to a surprise. 

“I came home from visiting my grandmother, and I could hear a bunch of meowing coming from under my bed, and I was worried that she was hurt or something. I immediately got down and looked under the bed and noticed two orange kittens,” Bartley said. “It turned out she was pregnant.”

Bartley said it was a complete surprise. They said they had no idea Lyra was pregnant, and neither did the cat’s vet.

“I called my aunt who has had cats, and she called her vet and I called my vet to see what we should do,” they said.

Over the next five hours, Bartley helped Lyra give birth to three orange kittens and one black kitten. 

Bartley said the cats are doing well.

“My cat was definitely a little weirded out by it all since she is still technically a kitten herself,” they said. “I’ve been helping her co-parent, and she’s gotten the hang of it now.”

Bartley said they will rehome the kittens in eight weeks after they are old enough.

“My cat is an ESA, so I guess now I have five ESA’s,” they said. “Now I have four extra kittens for the next eight weeks until I can find them new homes. I’ve actually had a few people reach out to me and tell me they are interested, so I do have a list.”

Rebecca Hundley, vocal performance junior, is interested in adopting the black kitten.

“I have had cats my whole life,” Hundley said. “My parents have one at their house, and I’ve wanted one with me for forever, but it’s not right to uplift that cat from the life she knows.”

Hundley said she and her girlfriend are moving off campus and had been wanting to get a cat for their new home. 

“My first reaction was to offer help because I had raised young kittens before,” she said.

Hundley said she likes the name “Lily” from the show “How I Met Your Mother.”

“Obviously cats can’t have normal names though,” she said. “We liked the name ‘Lilypad,’ so when she’s in trouble we can call her ‘Lillian Padma.’”