iHeartCats’ Purrfect Start Program Helped Samuel And Todd Get Their Second Chances

Newborn kittens are among the most vulnerable animals in any shelter. They need to be fed every two hours. They must be kept warm around the clock. And even the smallest setback can become life-threatening in a matter of hours.

When shelters don’t have the staff, supplies, or overnight care to meet those needs, kittens are often at risk, not because they aren’t wanted, but because they require more than most systems can give.

That’s why iHeartCats’ Purrfect Start Program is such a worthy cause. And thanks to the ongoing support of Hero VIP members, rescues like Furry Friends Rescue in Los Angeles are equipped to give fragile kittens the fighting chance they deserve.

A Care Package That Changed Everything

Through the Purrfect Start Program, Furry Friends Rescue in Los Angeles recently received critical supplies for their “bottle babies,” including:

These simple but lifesaving items allow rescuers to care for kittens too small to survive without help. But the impact didn’t stop there. Because of overflow support from iHeartCats campaigns, powered by compassionate shoppers and Hero VIP members, additional funds were available to help cover emergency surgeries for two very special kittens: Samuel and Todd.

Their stories are a testament to what sustained support can do.

Samuel: From Euthanasia List to Joyful Tripod

At just 10 weeks old, Samuel landed at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter with a severe paw injury. Without a rescue stepping up, he was at risk of euthanasia. Thankfully, Furry Friends LA pulled him into their rescue on September 18.

Despite the heavy cast that seemed almost half his size, Samuel was bursting with kitten energy. He refused to let it slow him down. After multiple veterinary visits, the diagnosis was clear: permanent nerve damage at the wrist. Samuel was “knuckling,” walking on the back side of his paw, causing painful calluses and infection. The only humane solution was amputation.

And Samuel? He didn’t let it faze him for a second. He adjusted immediately to life as a tripod. Today, he’s thriving in his forever home, chasing toys across the house, watching cat videos on TV, and living the carefree kitten life he always deserved.

Todd: The Blind Kitten Who Never Gave Up

Todd’s fight began even earlier. As a tiny kitten, he survived a severe Feline Herpes Virus infection that claimed his eyes and stunted his growth. He was at risk of euthanasia at Devore Shelter when Furry Friends LA stepped in with a rescue and adoption plan.

Todd faced enormous medical challenges. Blindness. Malabsorption. Delayed growth. Yet through it all, he remained energetic, determined, and full of life.

He stayed with Furry Friends LA for six months while they worked tirelessly to stabilize his health. Surgeons removed his right eye and attempted to restore vision in the left, but the FHV damage was too severe.

Despite being completely blind, Todd somehow maps his world perfectly. He doesn’t bump into objects. He climbs tall cat trees. He plays with toys. He gives gentle love bites and snuggles like a pro.

Two weeks ago, Todd finally made the journey to his forever home in Pittsburgh, transported by the SWATT Southwest Airlines travel team to a loving adopter who had already welcomed two other rescue cats.

Todd’s survival wasn’t luck. It was the result of caring people who refused to let him be overlooked.

The Power of Ongoing Support

Stories like Samuel’s and Todd’s are only possible because of sustained, predictable support. When you become a Hero VIP Member, your monthly membership helps ensure shelter kittens are never left hungry.

Every month, Hero VIP support helps:

• Donate 15 meals to shelter cats

• Fund emergency medical supplies

• Support rescue flights that transport kittens to safety

• Equip rescues with formula, bottles, syringes, and blankets

• Save more lives — month after month

For fragile newborns who need round-the-clock care, consistency is everything. If we can fund life-saving supplies in time, rescues are equipped to save dozens of kittens each season. Kittens who would otherwise be too small to survive without help.

You Can Be the Reason a Kitten Survives

When you shop Purrfect Start products, you’re helping send critical care packages directly to rescues on the front lines. When you become a Hero VIP Member, you help create steady, ongoing impact that shelters can count on. Samuel got his second chance. Todd made it to his forever home. And right now, more tiny kittens are waiting for someone to step in.

Become a Hero VIP Member today and help ensure shelter kittens are never left hungry.

Or shop Purrfect Start products to help send lifesaving supplies where they’re needed most.

Because sometimes, the difference between life and loss is as simple as a bottle, a blanket… and someone who cares enough to act.