A Louisiana man has become a social media sensation after he rescued not one but 13 tiny kittens he discovered on the side of a country road.
Robert Brantley, a professional marksman, was headed toward the shooting range when he spotted a gray and white kitten.
“Passed a baby kitten I knew wouldn’t make it through the night and the wife has been wanting a cat for the farm; figured I’d stop and rescue the thing,” he wrote on Instagram.
He recorded what happened next. The tiny kitten came right toward Brantley, crying like mad, asking for help.
Suddenly, two more kittens come out of the tall grass, then a mob of kittens follow.
“Oh no, oh my gosh! I can’t take y’all, oh my gosh there’s more! We got a kitten problem,” Brantley said as the kittens swarmed around him.
“Who would do this? I thought I was savin’ one. Hot diggity dog,” he said.
Kittens Gone Wild—and Viral
“I was just overwhelmed and wondering who could do something like that and where they came from,” said Brantley, who found the kittens near his home in Forest, Louisiana.
He had a feeling the kittens had been dumped.
“Because of how clean they were, how friendly they were,” he said. “I was mostly wondering if there was another sibling out there.”
The video Brantley has hashtagged #kittenambush quickly went viral, racking up more than a million views—and a lot of praise.
“Aww bless your heart so many kittens they knew you could help them you’re like a cat whisperer,” said one person.
“Thank you for not leaving them. Your kindness is what the world needs to see right now,” said another.
And, “Awwww!! I love how they all waited for you to pick up the bait then BOOM!!! You have a CATastrophe on your hands.”
Brantley was flooded with advice on how to care for the kittens. He set up a kiddie (kitty) swimming pool bathtub and went to work cleaning up the babies. Then came a visit to the vet, who said the kittens—two litters—were very young.
Purring Right Along
All but one of the kittens were in good condition.
That one, now named Champ, was further behind medically than the others.
“He just had a few issues,” said Brantley. “Some parasites and some sore spots, and he just wasn’t eating but he was still getting around. You knew he’d make but it was like he needed a little help. He’s doing really good now.”
The kitten who was brave enough to ask for help is named Scout, and the biggest kitten of the bunch is Ruby Jean.
Brantley and his wife Courtney have already found homes for most of the kittens, taking care to be sure they are placed in good homes. They will add Scout and Ruby Jean to their family, which includes four children and a dog, Codi Pig, a sweet Catahoula Cur who has been playing momma to the kittens.
Brantley’s kids are thrilled that Scout and Ruby Jean will stay with the family.
“They love them, and it’s good responsibility for them,” said Brantley.
Donations Keep Coming In
@courtneybrantley1 Part 2 of gifts!!! You all are so amazing!!!! #fyp #youguysareamazing #kittensoftiktok
Brantley has been astonished with all the attention his kitten rescue has received.
“The support people have given is just overwhelming and amazing,” he said.
People have sent money as well as food and supplies.
“We want to make sure it all gets used properly,” Brantley said. “I think right now we’re way overboard on what we would need to do this.”
Brantley said he’s had several local people reach out to him asking for assistance with kittens and he has helped out with the donated items.
“We’ll keep doing that,” he said. “But (the attention) has created a lot more momentum than I ever thought, especially on the local level, because we’re in a rural, kind of poverty area, so it’s not uncommon to see kittens and litters of puppies just stranded,” he said.
Brantley and his wife Courtney are using social media to promote the importance of spaying and neutering.
“People just don’t neuter and spay like they should,” he said.
@courtneybrantley1 Answers to all the questions we have received….Part 1#kittensoftiktok #youguysareamazing #fyp #robertbrantley #kittenhero #ittakesavillage #kittenadoption
Always a Lover of Animals
Brantley said he’s always been an animal guy.
Growing up, his family had a menagerie of pets and animals including donkeys, goats, cows, pigeons, peacocks, and chickens.
“My grandma had a lot of cats, and then my mom, she’s always been a cat and a small dog person,” he said. “I’ve had several cats throughout the years, but I’ve travelled so much, a cat’s never been a good pet for me, but I’ve always, always loved them. Now that I’m a lot more of a homebody, that’ll be perfect for us.”
Brantley is now known as a cat whisperer, and since he and little Scout have developed a special bond, he’s become cat dad, too.
Follow Brantley and his family’s adventures with the kittens on Instagram and TikTok.
@courtneybrantley1 Our babies love to hear their Daddy play, and apparently the fur babies do to! Scout found his place literally next to Robert’s heart! Instantly bonded! Amazing GRACE indeed! My heart can hardly handle it!!! #MYMAN #robertbrantley #fyp #howsweetthesound #wasblindbutnowisee #kittenhero #oneofthegoodones