Not all heroes are strong or tall or have special superpowers. In fact, real heroes are the people who have love and compassion in their hearts for the weakest and most vulnerable creatures, even if they are just two-years-old. Meet Sam, a young boy from California whose gentle nature and desire to help has made him a hero to many cats from The Cat House on the Kings rescue.
Lacey, Sam's mother, started to foster cats after being encouraged to give it a try by a coworker. "My sisters and I grew up around animals and have all been animal lovers. I wanted my kids to be around animals and missed having them around. My one cat at home seemed to be not enough," Lacey said. She wanted the same opportunity for her young son while also giving cats a comfortable place to stay until they are adopted.
Sam took to the job of fostering like he was born to it. He started with the first litter of kittens The Cat House on the Kings rescue gave Lacey to foster. Sam's mom wanted to make sure that he learned how to touch and hold the kittens correctly. He was so excited to have them in the house, and he was a quick learner. "We could tell at first he was figuring out that they were mini versions of our own (big, orange) cat. He would watch us very closely as we carefully held the kittens," explained Lacey.
Lacey was impressed with how gentle and careful Sam was with the kittens. "He definitely wanted to help. To me, it's just so beautiful how the love of animals is something innate within the heart of a child, but also how it needs to be nurtured and allowed to grow," she said.
Sam has now become a veteran at caring for the many kittens who come into his home for fostering. "Any time we get new babies Sam looks at them and says 'Hi little boo boos, they are so cute, so precious,' then sticks his fingers in the carrier and tries to pet them. When they come up, he says, 'They love me, they love me'," Lacey said.
The young boy enjoys every moment he spends with the cats. He loves to cuddle with them under blankets, play with them, and even read to them.
"He'll grab a blanket and a kitty and go sit in a chair. He also likes to give them cuddles in his shirt," his mom stated. "Sam is a great helper, he feeds the kittens, helps fill up the water, plays with the kittens and gives them lots of cuddles. We're still working on helping with the litter box."
So far, Sam and his mom have helped the seventeen rescue cats. They also donate their time to The Cats on the Kings rescue. There, Sam gives the cats love and attention every chance he gets. Lacey said, "Sam loves helping these kitties, and wishes he could take them all home!"
Our hats are off to Sam and Lacey for their singular dedication to these cats in need. You can follow their fostering adventures at Whiskers, Greens and Coffee Beans on Facebook and Instagram. Then share this inspiring story with your family and friends on Facebook.