Published Apr 16, 2025
Circe’s parents adopted her in part because their dog fell in love! Tessa the pup became a mother to the tiny kitten, who was only four weeks old at the time.
Now, the two continue to have a fantastic relationship in Circe’s new home. Here’s how their story began.
“We’re not going to be able to find her.”
Circe’s mom was on a walk with her dog Tessa when she heard a kitten meowing. She and her husband just couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from! They looked all around, even up into the trees.
The problem was, she stopped meowing whenever they moved closer to her. They needed someone who could sniff her out! That’s when the husband suggested that they let Tessa off of her leash so that she could take a look around.
Tessa was able to find the tiny, four-week-old kitten hidden in a bush. Her mom says that they never expected her to be so small, especially because she was so loud!
Circe was also having some issues with her eyes. They were gooey and stuck together, and it was clear that no one was taking care of her.
Falling in love with Circe
Though they planned to bring Circe to the shelter after cleaning her up, her parents soon decided to keep her instead. Her eye issues were better within a week, and she’s been healthy and happy in her new home ever since.
Her mom says that she’s a wild thing who absolutely loves water. She waits by the sink for them to brush their teeth so that she can play in the tap!
She finds creative things to play with and sees joy in everything. For instance, she’ll take a single piece of dog kibble from Tessa’s bowl and play with it for hours. She also loves playing with Tessa.
When she’s not being rambunctious, she loves to sit in the front window. She spends so much time in her spot that her parents bought a sign, which says, “This house is under 24 hour feline surveillance.”
Befriending the other pets
Though Circe met Tessa right away, her parents initially worried about how she’d get along with their other two cats.
Their outdoor cat Nacho has three legs and is seven years old. He wasn’t too fond of her joining the family at first, but now they run and play together outside.
Freya is a shy cat who blossomed with the addition of a kitten! Her parents expected her to be okay with Circe because she’s very docile, but were surprised at how much more playful she became. She now leaves her hiding spot under the bed much more often, wanting to hang out with her BFF.
Of course, Tessa the dog also gets along well with all three cats. They groom her and sleep on her, and she was like a mother to Circe since she was so young when they adopted her.
Their mom says that her pets are her whole life, and they bring so much love into the house. There’s never a dull moment with four pets, and she could watch them play all day long!
You can see more of Tessa and her cats on Instagram.
If you find an abandoned kitten
If you find an abandoned kitten as young as Circe, please look in the surrounding area for their mother or litter mates. It’s not good for a kitten to be separated from their families at this age–though sometimes, it’s not preventable, such as when a kitten has been orphaned.
Next, you’ll want to take the kitten to a veterinarian to ensure they’re healthy. Outdoor kittens may have parasites or transmittable diseases, so keep them in a separate room from your other pets until they’ve received a clean bill of health.
