Three kittens abandoned in a plastic container in Memphis have local homes for the holidays, as does their mother, who refused to leave the container until her babies were rescued.

The story of the tiny feline family began on Halloween, when they were spotted on Mud Island, a riverfront peninsula in Memphis, known for its walking trails and proximity to St. Jude’s Hospital.

Five kittens were inside a plastic storage tote, while their mother lay outside, keeping watch. When an animal control officer went to collect them, she discovered that the mother cat was missing her two back paws. Two of the five kittens didn’t make it.

“I have to think that somebody put the cats where they hoped they would be found and find help,” said Jill Thorsen, who has been rescuing cats in Tennessee since 200

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