Its crazy weird but its happening

Two of the cats in my care came to me already pregnant. They had kittens around the same time. They are constantly laying next to each other, moving the kittens together and feeding each others kittens along with their own. Its weird right, but it seems like every time I end up with multiple mothers they are always taking care of each others kittens like that. It just shows how beautiful cats can be when the environment is stable and they all have enough.
Here's a picture to show what I mean. You will also notice the absence of hair on parts of the mother's body. When I got her all of those spots were red and blistered. Very distressing considering she was also pregnant. I took her to vet and after many many tests she had either laid in something that burned her or the other more horrible scenario. I dont know exactly how she got like that because I was contacted to rescue her from a car garage where she apparently sought refuge from a storm. She's healed well and her fur is starting to grow back. The grey and white ones are hers and the obviously little orange one is the other moms. There are more kittens but its almost impossible to get them all at once

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I've read about this happening. Apparently, co-mothering kittens is not a rare phenomenon. So much for the misconception that cats aren't social animals. I know we all already know that's not true, but this is another example of how sociable cats can be with one another. 

Thanks for sharing the story and photos, I'd really love to hear updates about how this continues!

Yes, they will often do that. In colonies of feral cats that are watched and monitored it has been seen that mother cats will even babysit each other's kittens on a regular basis while each mom goes off to find food. You have your hands full with that lot!

Oh my hands are never too full. There's always another cat that needs help. Thank the lord for the no kill shelter that is going to help my get these guys adopted.

When I was a kid, we lived out in the country and we had a lot of cats.  Pocahontas and Cuddles had kittens about the same time and they put them together and took turns "babysitting."  Pocahontas had a kitten from the year before - Spot - and he could often be seen watching the kittens while their mamas went and did their thing.  I've never known a tomcat to care for kittens before.

Cats are great.

I've heard about female cats helping a related cat with her kittens, even when she doesn't have any. So, for example, a cat and her daughter will care together for the same litter either one of them gave birth to.

These girls aren't related as far as I know. But that's super sweet. Mom and daughter all star team

How many kittens do they have? Can you post pics of the moms too?

*PRAYERS* for mama cat and for the entire family!  Yes, contrary to what some say, cats are very social and lions in the wild will village-raise their babies, just as you describe.  In the past, I have lived in a community where there were many "community cats" whom my then-husband and I worked for years to earn the trust of and then got vetted, spayed/neutered, and adopted or adopted out.  The matriarch was naturally very wary, as she should be! and it took about 2 years to earn her trust enough to get all of the above for her, during which time she had several new families.  All of the siblings got along well together, interacted, and were very close.

That's so adorable !

What a sweet story and an adorable little family!! 

I'm not surprised by this. Cats are misunderstood and stereotyped by so many (not US of course- we know how amazing they are!)  

Thank you so much for all you are doing for these lucky kitties. The world could use more people like you in it.  

I have seen this happen years ago with my own cats. I had a room mate and her cat snuck out and got pregnant. When her cat had kittens one of my two young adult females would hang out in the nest with Princess and her kittens. Baby-T and Princess were not siblings but Baby-T did co-mother the kittens. Baby-T never was fixed and never produced milk but she would let the kittens suckle on her. She also kept the kittens warm when Princess would leave the nest for any reason. Princess was a stray that had been living outside until my room mate adopted her and decided to make her indoors. She only snuck out once long enough to mate. After the kittens were weaned I did get Princess fixed. My room mate's money was tight so got Princess fixed through a discount my vet offered to people who had multi-cat households under their care. This was a long time ago before I knew that low cost spay and neuter clinics existed. My room mate eventually moved out and left Princess in my care. When I found out the apartment I was in was illegal and was forced to find a new place quickly our neighbors adopted Princess. They had a senior cat that had passed away and my landlord was friend's with them. She mentioned that I was looking for a home from Princess and they decided to adopt her. They still had a younger adult cat and felt that she needed a companion because she was lonely when their other cat passed away. Princess got a long great with their other cat right away. She actually stopped trying to get outside once she moved into their home. It was such a relief that I was able to find her a home so easily. I was able to keep my 2 cats and the two kitten's that adopted me from Princess's litter. The two kittens had adopted Baby-T as their 2nd mommy. I had to re-home the rest of the litter at 8 weeks old so I made sure they were either adopted out as pairs or went to a home with another cat/kitten. I was very lucky that another friend's family members were wanting to add to their households at the right time.

Here's mommy now, her skins all healed and some of her fur is coming back. Its hard and I know I'm going to have her for a long time, people arent looking for a cat that is challenged like that. There's nothing wrong with her anymore, she's just not as pretty as people would like. But I love her and she'll always have a sage home with me as long as I can keep it going.

Here are the kittens I have left. I'm in the San Antonio area if anyone is looking for a kitten lol. I also have several adult cats if anyone is wanting to know about them.

I think Mommy Cat is beautiful! Most of my cats are the ones that were difficult to re-home, either too wild or too sick or missing teeth or eyes. Never mind! These damaged little souls make the best companions if you are willing to invest some time and patience into them.

How many cats do you have altogether? I have 22 now.

So sweet!  *PRAYERS* for loving forever homes for each and every one!

I hope you are not right.  Best Friends Animal Society has a lot of "special needs" cats and according to them, there are indeed people who truly love and seek out these special cats.  May there be a perfect loving forever home for your beautiful mama cat! 

I have 15 cats and two mini pinchers, brothers. And two more cats with the vets right now.