22-05-2025
Kittens Fight for Their Lives After Being Found Zip Tied to Shopping Cart
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Two newborn kittens have been left fighting for their lives after being found zip-tied together beneath a shopping cart at a shopping center in Santa Fe, California.
The kittens, tentatively named Frodo and Sam, were brought to the Helen Woodward Animal Center late on May 20, along with two siblings who tragically succumbed to their injuries.
The orange tabbies, still bearing their umbilical cords and crawling with fleas, were estimated by medical staff to be less than five days old. One of the kittens is recovering well, but the other sustained serious injuries to its rear left leg from the zip tie.
The kittens were rushed to safety by a regional manager from Blue Buffalo, a longtime supporter of the Center. Their survival, staff say, is nothing short of miraculous.
"That was our biggest concern at first," said Kendall Schulz, director of adoptions at the Center. "We were worried they hadn't eaten in hours, and wouldn't eat. But the moment we tried bottle feeding, they took to it right away."
The two kittens that survived, now being cared for by Helen Woodward Animal Center.
The two kittens that survived, now being cared for by Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Kittens should stay with their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old, with many experts recommending waiting until they are 10-12 weeks old to separate them.
When separated too early, kittens can miss out on essential nutrients from their mother's milk, suffer from growth problems and suffer malnutrition.
There are also potential long-term effects on kittens separated too early, with studies showing that kittens taken from their mother too early may be increasingly vocal in stressful situations or at higher risk of developing compulsive behaviors or aggression.
Recent data from Shelter Animals Count shows that 1,944 animals were surrendered as of April 25, 2025, an increase of around 11 percent compared to the same time in 2024.
Currently, shelters are grappling with what is often known as "kitten season" which typically runs between March and October. Longer daylight hours trigger hormonal changes in unspayed female cats, leading to multiple heat cycles and increased pregnancies. As a result, shelters see an influx of kittens around these times.
Kittens Frodo and Sam are now in foster care and are beginning their long road to recovery.
"Finding fosters qualified to bottle feed is super important, because these little guys need to be fed every two hours," Schulz added. "Fortunately, we have an extensive network of qualified fosters who can drop everything and help out."
The Center encourages anyone with information about the case—or those interested in supporting the care of animals like Frodo and Sam—to reach out directly to them.
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