Finding stray kittens on the side of the road can be an emotional ordeal. You don’t want to abandon them to their fate, and you’re stuck between the choices of taking them home to nurse them back to health, or surrendering them to a shelter where they may never find homes of their own. Not everyone is financially equipped to take care of stray cats either, which makes the decision even more difficult.
But when eighteen-year-old Hamdan Shibli, who lives in Israel, was on his way to work, he didn’t hesitate to rescue these three siblings from their fate.
He looked around to see if their mother was nearby to take care of them, but found no signs of her.
But when eighteen-year-old Hamdan Shibli, who lives in Israel, was on his way to work, he didn’t hesitate to rescue these three siblings from their fate.
He looked around to see if their mother was nearby to take care of them, but found no signs of her.
Image Credit: Hamdan Shibli
He made the effort to move them out of the road into a patch of grass, and that’s when he discovered that they weren’t just regular stray cats.
He made the effort to move them out of the road into a patch of grass, and that’s when he discovered that they weren’t just regular stray cats.
Image Credit: Hamdan Shibli
They were definitely something much more, something that not even Hamdan would expect.
They were definitely something much more, something that not even Hamdan would expect.
Image Credit: Hamdan Shibli
After taking pictures of the felines and posting them online, he was informed that they were in fact jungle cats who were actually native to Asia. He quickly returned to the spot to rescue them, and found them still without their mother.
They were weak and covered in fleas, so he gathered them all up in a basket and took them back home. It was unfortunate that one of the kittens didn’t make it, leaving the two siblings alone to continue on without him.
After taking pictures of the felines and posting them online, he was informed that they were in fact jungle cats who were actually native to Asia. He quickly returned to the spot to rescue them, and found them still without their mother.
They were weak and covered in fleas, so he gathered them all up in a basket and took them back home. It was unfortunate that one of the kittens didn’t make it, leaving the two siblings alone to continue on without him.
Image Credit: Afeka Clinic
They were brought to a wild animal hospital to receive medical treatment and get them back on the road to recovery and gaining strength.
They were brought to a wild animal hospital to receive medical treatment and get them back on the road to recovery and gaining strength.
Image Credit: Nehorai Aklian
Image Credit: Afeka Clinic
No one knows how long they were without their mother, but her absence had obviously taken a toll on them.
No one knows how long they were without their mother, but her absence had obviously taken a toll on them.
Image Credit: Nehorai Aklian
They were provided with formula, as well as vitamins and minerals to help them grow strong as they matured.
They were provided with formula, as well as vitamins and minerals to help them grow strong as they matured.
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
The goal was to get them strong enough so that they could eventually be returned to the wild and live out the rest of their lives in freedom.
The goal was to get them strong enough so that they could eventually be returned to the wild and live out the rest of their lives in freedom.
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
Soon, they were able to eat solid food on their own, which made their handlers’ jobs much easier.
Soon, they were able to eat solid food on their own, which made their handlers’ jobs much easier.
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
That gave them the strength to play throughout the day, honing those instincts and skills that they’ll need to survive in the world.
That gave them the strength to play throughout the day, honing those instincts and skills that they’ll need to survive in the world.
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
The jungle cat population isn’t exactly at risk, but it has been noted that there are only about 600 living around Israel.
The jungle cat population isn’t exactly at risk, but it has been noted that there are only about 600 living around Israel.
Image Credit: Ofer Brill
Hopefully these little guys will recover well, and when they’re old enough, they can be reintroduced to the wild to continue maintaining their species’ population.
Hopefully these little guys will recover well, and when they’re old enough, they can be reintroduced to the wild to continue maintaining their species’ population.