What began as a romp watching cute kittens on a live cam morphed into something
much bigger.
It was something the UStream chat community, the foster family and the eventual new owners of the kittens could have hardly anticipated.
Seven kittens and their mother taught us showed us what a perfect world could look like.
The story behind “sevenkittens”
According to the information on the Ustream site known as “sevenkittens,” the kittens were born on June 7. The mother cat, Noodles, under a year old, was a hungry, pregnant stray taken in and fostered by a kind Pittsburgh, PA family.
Here is a video of the litter, one day old:
All are spoken for
As the family already has four cats of their own, Noodles and her litter were put up for adoption. I am happy to report that each kitten and Noodles too, have been adopted (in fact, Noodles will be going to her new home with one of her ginger sons).
Breakdown of the family
There are five male gingers: three are orange, one is buff-colored and the fifth is nearly white. This kitten, dubbed “Runty” by the chat community, was, in fact, the runt of the litter.
The two females are tortis, one black and the other gray.
The best of care
The foster family has lavished great care on this litter, producing beautiful, healthy and socially adjusted kittens ready for their forever homes.
Gone viral
LiveCams of baby animals are popping up all over the place, from birds’ nests to litters of puppies and kittens.
Yet “sevenkittens” has managed an astonishing three million-plus views! This weekend those of us who have been following the litter with great interest will bid a fond farewell and shed more than few tears.
What was it about this litter of kittens that attracted over three million views?
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Loki (Runty) at 8 weeks with the lucky lady he would soon go home with A compelling storyline. “Runty” (now known as Loki) stole the hearts of everyone who visited. We all rooted for him as he grew from an alarmingly small newborn to a sweet, healthy and magnificent looking boy-cat.
- Supermom! Noodles’ care of seven rambunctious kittens, especially considering her youth, was extraordinary. When she wasn’t with her kittens, she was calling to them. She’d even play with them.
- Variety. There was something for everyone in this litter from gingers to tortis, from sweet-tempered to rambunctious, glamorous girls and handsome boys.
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at 2 months – Ramon (left) and the lovely Venus (right) Beautiful, peaceful images. The pictures of Noodles nursing her kittens soothed many a viewer who would check in during a stressful work day.
- A viable, and international, community. Kittens are universal. Members of the chat community literally came from all over the world, chatting in many foreign languages. We had a common interest in mind – love for this cat family – and we got to know each other in the process.
- A happy ending. Animal lovers know how many strays suffer and die prematurely. We’ve seen those disturbing ads from the Humane Society. This foster family lavished their attention and resources on Noodles and her kittens, sacrificing time, money and a bedroom in their home for them. It was a generous gesture very much appreciated by the whole community. And every kitten (plus the mother) are going to forever homes.
The kindness of strangers. A community pulling together around a common purpose. Scenes of perfect bliss with a mother and her children. And lots of love.
Sounds like a glimpse of a perfect world.
Thank you to the foster family for your generosity, for opening your home and sharing your story, for capturing the best highlights for us to look at again and again, and for Noodles and her children: Taco, Cosmo, Ramon, Hank, Spooky, Venus and most especially Loki.
The live Ustream will be up at least through this Friday, August 17. Highlights are available at the site. There are also videos available on YouTube at kittensseven.
I leave you with a slideshow chronicling the lives of this extraordinary litter. Enjoy!
If you are a member of the chat community or are just interested, email me and I’ll send you all the pictures I’ve collected in a zip file.
Click to Tweet & Share: Seven Kittens show us what an ideal world can look like http://wp.me/p2D9hg-2Q
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Be as One 
What a lovely piece! I’ve been watching Noodles and Babies since day one and I’m going to miss them so much. Thanks for posting such a lovely piece about stray adopting, it just goes to show that a little love goes a long long way (and in this case saved 8 precious little lives). Who knew the world would fall in love with one young mum and her seven babies? jlkramer2727, Thank you so very much. xxx
Thanks for stopping by! I have always adopted my cats from shelters and really believe in their work. The Kramers really put it on the line and their generosity is coming back ten-fold.
thank you for the wonderful pictures and story line of this special family. I have watched since they were a week old and now like the Decorah Eagles I will so miss them, but they will be well taken care of with their new families. 3 million people will certainly be awaiting updates and pictures! Have a good Fall and thank you again. Wm Bond KC MO
Thanks for stopping by. Maybe we’ll get a little update from some of the new families. I’d love to see these beauties fully grown.
It would be really fantastic if our babies’ new parents posted updates of “our” babies here in your loving tribute to them. Thanks again Jen Kramer for your kindness.
Bonnie Johnson (babysmama)
Agreed!
thank you for this! you’ve put together a beautiful tribute to this “ideal world.” i stumbled upon the seven kittens at just shy of 3 weeks and since then they have often been the highlight of my day. i’m so thankful for the Kramers’ kindness to these kitties and their generosity in sharing them with us. Love to all!
Couldn’t agree more. I came in at the same time as you, thanks to my son’s girlfriend. Needless to say, I am eternally grateful to her!:-)
I left my first comment on the kayak section. Susan, thank you for this story and the beautiful pictures. The seven kittens, Noodles, and the kitty club chatters feel like a family to me. God Bless all of you. Beth Albright
I left my first comment on your about page – but wanted the Kitty Club to read it here….
I had rotator cuff surgery the very day these kittens were born. Their epic journey from possible homelessness and trajedy to this well adjusted, healthy and very happy family of kittens has fueled my recovery. And, the people I have chatted with (Kitty Club) over the many days of watching have made me smile and look forward to getting up and running to the computer each and every day. Thank you again to Jen Kramer and her family for this blessing.
Bonnie (babysmama)
Bonnie/babysmama, I’m with you. They have healed me more than I ever thought they could! It’s been fun connecting with you and the others. Jeanie (Marmeladegypsy)
This is a beautiful look at our seven kittens. It has been a wonderful summer of kittens and lovely chatters. I started watching the first week, when there were only 200 viewers….it’s been a joy to see and share with all. Thanks again for putting this together. And of course thanks to Jen Kramer for sharing with us.
Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful site. I said so on “Seven Kittens” via Ustream, but I want to go on the record/make it official.
Thanks!
OMG!!! This is at least what I can say about this report and the experience of watch, follow and enjoy these adorable kittens, their lovely Momma Noodles, the nice lady JLK and the great group of more than 3 million people arround the world. For exemple… I’m from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil!!!
Furthermore, I was pleased to be part of a club more than special “The Kitty Club” with people who love cats and their stories, specially these ones here. Thank you all !!!! 🙂
How cool, a visitor from Brazil, proving again how international this community is. Go Kitty Club!
Go Kittens Go!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Somebody should design a T-shirt with the Lucky Eight … 🙂
Thank you for this tribute to the lovely seven, susan, it was a wonderful read. 🙂
It will be hard to see them leave so soon already and i hope we’ll be able to get updates about them, especially our little Loki.
Best regards
Throki
Awww … I’m also a member of the chat community! Thank you for such a lovely post of what has been a wonderful outlet for my kids and I this summer. Watching these babies grow and play and their sweet mommy has been such a treat. Thank you JLK!
I was lucky enough to experience 3 litters of kittens when I was a kid and it was wonderful to relive it with these babies. I also got my own cats when they were a year old so I never go to see them as kittens. Now I know just what they were like through Spooky and the ginger brothers. 🙂
Thank you, Susan, for this lovely tribute to the babies and Mama Noodles. Though I’m not part of the Kitty Club chat I have been watching sevenkittens since their second week of life. How glorious to see them thrive and adapt and do all the great things kittens do.
I know others have mentioned the Scientist kittens on Livestream but there is also another litter that needs our attention: A2ndChanceRescue at – http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ascpkr#
From their Ustream page: This litter of kittens consists of a mom (Scarlett), four orphans, and three of her own babies. They were rescued from a Broward County shelter and are bieng housed at a foster home.
Worthy of our support I think.
Thanks again for this lovely blog post and the great pics, especially Loki with Nat.
Thanks for that link! One more family to look in on. Here’s the link for the Scientist Kitties https://new.livestream.com/FosterKittenCam/TheScientistKittens
Hi Susan and thanks so much for putting this together. What a lovely compilation and the words are so true. It has been amazing watching the kitties grow and seeing their different personalities develop and it has been a really heartwarming story. JLK’s kindness and getting to know the lovely kitty club members has restored my faith that there are still good, caring people in this complicated world that we live in. I am so happy that these kitties are going on to their wonderful forever homes soon but will really miss them too! I do hope the kitty clubbers can stay in touch. Thanks again for putting this together for us all to enjoy and of course thank you so much JLK for sharing the kitties and their adventures with us! best wishes to all Michelle (MaisyP) xx
I hope we can all stay in touch too! This is only the beginning, I plan on blogging more on cats, especially as I follow the live cams. This, and a whole bunch of other stuff too.
I’ve been following the kittens since the first week and have loved both the chat and the kittens. For me, watching the kittens (and especially the oranges) was a healing experience. Not long before the webcast started I lost by own dear Marmelade Gypsy, aged 14 1/2 and my heart was broken. Watching the kittens grow and play and sweet Noodles taking care of them has helped heal my heart, make me smile (often through tears) and ready to look for a new feline companion. (Oh, to have lived close enough to jlkramer to be on her list of pet parents!) As babysmama said, it “fueled my recovery.” I watch these kits till it’s way too late at night and check in before leaving for work (and sometimes there, too!).
Thank you, Susan, for creating this page which I know I’ll refer to often after next week. What jlkramer did was wonderful. You only make it even better.
Jeanie — Marmelade Gypsy
Boy, I know how that feels! How lucky you were to have the kittens to check in on, God is good. 🙂 I love the name of your cat and I see you have a blog – hope there’s a picture of her there. I have pictures of mine on the About page.
So glad your heart is healing …….. and that you are considering a new baby.
babysmama
Absolutely beautiful site, Susan. So happy to be able to keep in touch with all the wonderful chatters on Seven Kitties …what a blessing and a blast it has been. Have watched since the kitties were a week old. JLK, there are no words enough to express what you have done. So I will just leave it thus: Thanks for ALL you do and have done thoughout this experience and your generosity with all of us chatters. This is an unforgettable exerience you have provided for us and life saving for Noodles and her beautiful litter. What a lucky eight !!!!
Thank you JLK and Susan
The Lucky Eight – so true! And ditto on everything you said. And thanks for the kind words. 🙂
Hello Suzan, I’m from Brazil, do not speak English [use translator]. Accompany sevenkittens since the third week, and many lost my kitten in February this year [heart problems] 13 years, plus sevenkittens, Mama Noodles and jlkramer2727 this generous lady, helping me to overcome is the loss. Already miss the club kittens and kittens. I read you guys right, smiles a lot and I’ve cried with you. Please do not disappear.
It was their tribute to the wonderful and generous lady sevenkittens jlkramer2727.
Congratulations and thank you Susan, we will be together in farewell. many kisses
with love,
Teteh
Teteh, thank you for sharing your story. This is wonderful, all these stories of the healing presence of Noodles and her children. God works in many ways and loves us in ways we can never expect. I hope you will consider adopting a new cat to love.
Dear Suzan, now working as a volunteer at a shelter kitten, as my elderly mother lives with me, for now I can not take, I’ve had 8 kittens in my apartment. When can I take yes. I love animals, can not live without them. Thank you for your attention. always be reading your blog.
kisses
Teteh Br
Wow, you’re really walking the walk! God bless your work and all you do.
Suzan thank you, always be reading the club Also I’m following the kittens https://new.livestream.com/FosterKittenCam/TheScientistKittens [cute] and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ascpkr # [beautiful], where fun reading your comments and kind. Stay with God
kisses
Teteh Br
Suzan thank you, always be reading the club Also I’m following the kittens https://new.livestream.com/FosterKittenCam/TheScientistKittens [cute] and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ascpkr # [beautiful], where fun reading your comments and kind. Stay with God
kisses
Teteh, Brasil
A beautiful site! Thank you so much for putting all of this together. While the sevenkittens aired, I lost one of my furkids, Alice, at 18. While nothing will diminish her memory, watching the kittens and sharing in the comradery of the kitten club helped to diminish the pain of losing her.
That’s such a great story. Many here have expressed similar sentiments. It’s such a pleasure to publish a POSITIVE story that makes people feel better. We sure need that in this world!
Thank you, Suzan and KittyClubbers! I am Russian living in Seoul, Korea
Wow, that’s far away from me, how cool. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Kittenclubbers! It has been fun eight weeks altough I didnt say anything I just watched 😉 And I know other people in Finland did that too.
Asta from Finland
Asta, thanks for stopping by. It was a wonderful 8 weeks!
Nice article. Has any of the new owners found a way to keep updating us on their kitten’s progress? I seem to remember Loki’s new owner saying she might.
We’re trying here on the blog but there’s nothing official. I’m wondering if the new owners might feel a bit freaked out at the idea of the whole world watching. I mean, over 3 million views? That’s pretty amazing.
Hello fellow Kitten Clubbers, I hope to “see” you, the kittens and Noodles this evening as we bid farewell.
Hello fellow Kitten Clubbers. I hope to “see” you, the kittens and Noodles this evening as we bid farewell. Thank you Susan… I will post more later.
Thank you for stopping by. It’s our kitties’ graduation day!
These wonderful kitties have helped me while away many hours through the rainy British summer. It’s been an absolute delight.
Aww, that’s awesome. 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful post. I’ve loved watching the babies growing up . . . I watched them rolling around, learning to walk, learning to play and becoming little kids. Noodles is a wonderful mommy and I especially love her purrrmeow. Little guy (Runty/Loki) has my heart forever . . . OMG I’m going to cry! I’ll miss them but it’s wonderful to know they are all going to forever homes and will be loved. JLK is the best foster mommy ever and I’m grateful for her sharing the babies and Noodles with us. **shniffles**
Oh I’ve already cried a few times! Every time I look at that picture that Jen Kramer took of them all nursing it just kills me. I can’t even imagine the withdrawal she’s going to go through!
I know I’ve said this several times already but there’s no other way to describe it – this has been a most amazing experience!
Thanks for stopping by.
I happened upon these kittens when they were about 2 weeks old, and I’ve followed them ever since. I’ve turned family and friends on to them as well. It’s been such a joy to watch these kittens grow up to be such wonderful young cats!
I fostered my own set of seven kittens and one mom four years ago, and I still have one of the kittens. Fostering is such a rewarding experience! It’s a lot of work, yes, but the payoffs are so great. The kitten I kept was the most “feral” of the group, but the amount of joy I had the first time she meowed at me and the first time she rolled over to allow me to touch her belly – I though my heart would burst!
To anyone that fosters, including Jen Kramer, I applaud you! To those that haven’t, you should really give it a try! I’m so excited for these guys to go to their new homes, but I’m also sad, and I’ll miss them!
Thank you, Jen, for allowing us all to participate vicariously in the raising of these wonderful kittens! And thank you, Susan, for setting up this post!
Fostering takes a lot of love, I commend you folks because of what you do.
I’m from Brazil and what can I say is Thank you so much JLK for the incrediible moments with Noodles and her babies. I’m missing a lot that kittens, but I’m só happy with their happy end.
It couldn’t be a happier ending. It’s especially gratifying seeing how little Runty has blossomed into Loki the Great!
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty
much the same layout and design. Great choice of
colors!
Thanks!