This orphaned kitten was the only survivor of his litter and never knew what it was like to have a mom until he found his surrogate mother.

Meet Eli the kitten.

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

Little Eli was just one day old when they found him with his deceased siblings. He was bottle fed from that day on. The tiny tabby kitten yearned for the love from a cat mama.

When Madeline the cat and her kittens were taken into the same foster home in Seattle Washington, Cindy the caregiver (@foster_kittens) hoped that the sweet mama would accept the little motherless kitten.

Mama Madeline took to little Eli and started caring for him as her own.

When Eli came to Cindy, he was a wee kitten who just wanted to be loved. Courtesy: @foster_kittens

Eli adored his new mom but didn't know how to nurse. "Kittens who are bottle-fed get used to a different type of drinking. He hasn't stopped purring since he got here."

Mama Madeline gives him a bath to welcome him into her family.

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

After a bottle of milk, he snuggled with mama and the other kittens for a nap. "He seems to love having a family," Cindy said.

"I keep thinking of how Madeline's first litter of kittens didn't survive (before she came to me) .... and how Eli was the only survivor of his litter. What a sweet mom Madeline has been to Eli."

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

"Kittens who have been bottle fed are typically smaller than kittens who nursed from a mom, but they soon catch up once they eat solid food," Cindy said.

Eli became very attached to mama Madeline.

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

"A great benefit of bottle babies is they love people: they are snuggly and purry and totally absorbed in their human," Cindy said.

"There's nothing quite like having a tiny, well-fed, purry kitten crawl up under your neck and fall fast asleep."

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

Happy little Eli!

"Madeline and I have a good routine with little Eli: I bottle feed him, then she cleans him up and potties him," Cindy said.

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

Her kittens adore their little adopted brother too.

They comfort him in a snuggly lovey purr pile.

Courtesy: @foster_kittens

Snuggles and snuggles!

Updates:

Eli has been adopted!

Photo: @danger_neener

Happy and loved!

Photo: @danger_neener

Eli all grown up now!

Photo: @danger_neener

Cute Eli!

Share this story with your friends. Follow foster_kittens on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Eli on Instagram @danger_neener. You can find more rescues like Eli at Purrfect Pals.



Related story: Woman Captures Time-lapse of Her Foster Kitten From Birth to Adoption