One day, out of nowhere, a small feline started wandering into Chris’ backyard. At first, she only came through a hole in the fence to grab a bite of the food Chris began leaving for her. She kept her distance, though—skittish and completely feral, the cat wasn’t interested in human contact. Chris could only watch her from afar, curious and concerned. “She was terrified of humans,” Chris explained in the video below. Despite her fear, the cat, who Chris eventually named Frances, kept coming back.
Then, one day, Chris noticed something alarming—a deep cut behind Frances’ ear, likely from a fight. Panic set in. He knew he couldn’t leave her outside in that condition. He had to get her indoors, but gaining her trust wouldn’t be easy. “I just freaked out and was like, we got to get her inside somehow.”
Determined, Chris began using food—specifically tuna—to coax Frances into the house, little by little. The plan worked. Slowly but surely, she ventured into the kitchen. Once safely inside, Frances explored the house and eventually made her way to the basement, where she settled under Chris’ desk. They made her a comfortable bed in the corner, and it wasn’t long before Chris realized something surprising: Frances’ belly was moving. She was pregnant.
What followed was a long labor that spanned eight hours. Chris stayed by Frances’ side, offering her support and comfort. When it was over, Frances had given birth to five kittens. Sadly, one was stillborn, but the other four—three boys and one girl—were healthy and thriving.
That night marked a turning point for Frances. “She had never let me hold her or anything like that,” Chris said. “But through the labor and me helping her with the babies, I think we finally broke that barrier.” Frances began to trust him. She let Chris handle her kittens, knowing he was there to help, not harm.
At first, Chris planned to keep Frances and find homes for the kittens. But as he watched Frances care for her babies, he couldn’t bear the thought of separating them. “Francis just loved their babies so much. I was like, well, that would be horrible to separate the mother from the babies,” he said.
So, Chris made a decision: the entire family would stay together. Over time, the kittens grew, but unlike what people warned Chris—that the family would grow apart—Frances and her kittens remained inseparable. “They’re all so bonded. All of them love each other,” Chris shared with a smile.
Chris’ home soon transformed into a feline paradise. “There’s more cat furniture in this house than there is human furniture,” he joked. “It’s great. It’s a little cat world.”
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Now, Frances, once a scared feral cat hiding under bushes, spends her days surrounded by her kittens and the person who gave her a second chance. The bond they share is unbreakable, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected visitors can turn into family.