It’s amazing how kitten rescue missions often bring two kitties closer together. I can’t count the number of times I’ve come across stories of rescue kittens becoming inseparable best buddies. 

Today, I’ve got one of those heartwarming kitten rescue tales you won’t want to miss. It’s the story of Bean and Chickpea, two foster kittens from Tampa, Florida, who may have had a rough start but found their happily ever after.

So, without further ado, let’s jump right into it!

Bean’s Story

Chris Poole, also known as Cat Man Chris, one day received a message from a woman in Riverview, Florida. 

According to Chris, the woman stumbled upon three adorable kittens but couldn’t afford to care for them. Unfortunately, two of the kittens crossed The Rainbow Bridge too soon, leaving Bean the sole survivor. 

When Chris received her plea for help, he was already swamped with work and needed a helping hand. Luckily, he knew just the right person to reach out to.

He contacted Nadija Falbo with AnimalLuvr’s Dream Rescue, who lived only a couple of minutes away, and asked if she was able to help. 

Nadija was more than willing to go and investigate the situation in person. However, she had no idea what she was about to encounter.

Nadija found Bean in terrible shape! Severely underweight, covered in fleas, and suffering from a nasty eye infection, he needed urgent care. As Nadija described it:

“When I grabbed him to put in my carrier, I was shocked how skinny he was. I thought I was going to break him by just holding him. Bean was very frail, covered in fleas; his stomach and back were black from fleas and flea dirt. The little guy was screaming out and cold. Of course his eye was covered in dirt and discharge from the eye infection.” 

According to Nadija, Bean was 3 weeks old, but only weighed 6 ounces, which is the typical weight of a one-week-old kitten.

Bean’s road to recovery was a gradual one. It took him a few days to stabilize and escape the danger zone.

Thanks to Nadija who thoroughly cleaned him, properly fed him, and made sure he was always warm and resting, little Beanie quickly stepped into his true kitten self. 

She also took him to Dr. Sabshin at Harmony Vet Care who carefully removed the stubborn scab on his eye, managing to avoid causing any damage. 

Nadija continued to look after Bean’s eye and attended to all his needs. If it weren’t for her, the poor guy would definitely never have survived. 

Chickpea’s Story 

Chickpea was another rescue kitten under Nadija’s care. She arrived a couple of weeks after Bean and was suffering from an upper respiratory infection (URI) which made it difficult for her to eat. 

According to Nadija, Chickpea came from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. She was all alone, with no mother or siblings in sight, and was extremely timid. 

Nadija took Chickpea under her wing, bottle-feeding her every day, keeping her warm and comfortable, and ensuring she received medical attention for her infection.

In just a few weeks, Chickpea was feeling so much better, all thanks to Nadija’s love and care.

It’s incredible what miracles genuine kindness can do. With an abundance of love and care, Nadija turned Chickpea from a scared and sickly kitten into a happy and healthy fluff. 

The Happy Ending For Two Besties

Once both Bean and Chickpea got significantly better, they became roommates. And they absolutely loved it!

Alongside Pinto, another rescue kitten, they shared their daily adventures and learned how to “cat” together. As Nadija put it:

“All three came from different backgrounds and met in foster care where they became best friends! They are all still a few weeks away from being able to get vetted. But are enjoying all the perks an indoor home has to offer. Lots of toys, treats, food, soft blankets, and lots of playtime!”

The trio was inseparable, always being silly, playful, and incredibly adorable. They even had their spay/neuter surgeries on the same day and recovered while snuggled up together. They were a dream! 

Bean and Chickpea, however, shared a special bond that was undeniably strong. For some inexplicable reason, they seemed destined to be by each other’s side.

So, it was only fitting that Nadija wanted them to be adopted together to preserve their unique connection.

Which is precisely what happened! Approximately two months after their arrival, Bean and Chickpea found their forever mom!

Their buddy Pinto was adopted a couple of days later, too! In the end, everything worked out beautifully.

This story serves as a reminder of the importance of adopting rescue cats. Being a cat parent to a rescued fluff is incredibly rewarding, as they are full of love and gratitude for their second chance at life.

If you enjoyed Bean and Chickpea’s heartwarming tale as much as I did, please let me know in the comments below. Feel free to share similar stories too!