The day after they brought a cat to the shelter, her six kittens arrived. But this time, she wouldn't have to do it alone. Garden and her kittenJan@kittygarden626Earlier this month, Garden, a beautiful calico cat, found herself in an animal shelter, heavily pregnant.The day after she arrived, she gave birth to six kittens and desperately needed a foster home. Best Friends Animal Society (in LA) stepped in to help, giving the family of seven a chance to thrive."Garden was sweet and trusting on day one with me. She let me pet and brush her," Jan, the foster mom, shared with Love Meow. Jan@kittygarden626Garden was relieved to escape the stress and noise of the shelter for a quiet, cozy space to raise her young. Caring for six kittens is no easy feat, but she didn't have to do it alone this time.The kittens (Glisten, Glimmer, Glow, Geranium, Golden Poppy, and Grove) nestled against their doting mom who kept them nourished and clean. Jan@kittygarden626Jan looked for signs from the mom to ensure she was comfortable with her handling the kittens. "I took it slow, but she seemed to have no problem with me picking them up to be weighed on the second day (they were three days old then)."All six kittens were plump and healthy, a true testament to their mom's dedication. Jan@kittygarden626"It made a huge difference that she gave birth in a warm and clean shelter instead of outside."Garden moved from the carrier into a larger nest prepared for her. She settled onto the soft blankets with her babies nestled beside her, purring in approval. Whenever she needed a break, she turned to her foster mom for affection. Jan@kittygarden626She tried her first treat from her foster mom and eagerly gobbled it up. "At first, she wasn't sure how to eat it, but after she chomped it and squished out a bunch of the treat into her mouth, she loved it."With two girls and four boys, Garden had her paws full. Jan@kittygarden626"Six babies are a lot of mouths to feed, but Garden seems to not mind it. I can tell she likes me to help them go potty. Usually, she takes a break after cleaning up after one or two. I don't mind helping her—six babies is a lot."A few days later, the kittens began to open their eyes and see the world for the first time. Golden PoppyJan@kittygarden626Golden Poppy (house panther) was the first to peek out, taking in the world, and soon, his siblings followed. "Kittens usually start opening their eyes around 8-10 days old, so this boy is an early bloomer."Even during breaks, Garden keeps a watchful eye on her kittens. "She always stays close and will go to them when they start crying. She will make a loving companion for someone when she's all done nursing her little ones (her last litter)." Jan@kittygarden626The kittens have grown into happy little roly-polies. With full bellies, they sleep soundly and wake up with renewed energy."I highly encourage others to volunteer to foster a mom cat and babies. Garden and her sprouts have been one of the easiest fostering experiences I have had in over five years of fostering. Mom does most of the work. I just check in on her, feed her, and weigh the babies daily to make sure they are growing." Jan@kittygarden626Glimmer may be the smallest, but she has a big voice and a determined spirit, always claiming the prime nursing spot.At three weeks old, the kittens are finding their footing, strengthening their legs, and becoming more curious about their surroundings. They will soon venture beyond their nest to explore and play. GlimmerJan@kittygarden626"Garden lets her babies climb all over her back and feed under her tummy even while she's trying to have a moment to herself to eat."Thanks to many compassionate volunteers, this precious family has found a second chance. Garden is thrilled to have a loving foster mom, supporting her and ensuring her kittens grow big and strong. Jan@kittygarden626Share this story with your friends. More on Garden, her kittens, and Jan's fosters on Instagram@kittygarden626 and Best Friends (LA) on Instagram.Related story: Woman Bought a Home and Inherited a Cat, Shortly After Bringing Her Inside, She Found Kittens