These Kitten Björns Are Helping Feral Cats Find Their Forever Home

June 04, 2017

We’re all humans here (I think), which means we’ve all seen or heard of the BabyBjörn before.

It essentially lets a parent live out their dream of becoming a kangaroo and carrying around their baby in a pouch.
Oh, and the closeness is said to strengthen the bond between parent and child.

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BUT have you heard of a kitten björn?

No? Well, friends, prepare for cuteness overload.
*secures helmet*

According to The Dodo, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) designed the Kitten Björn to help feral kittens under 10 weeks socialize with humans before they’re adopted.

The ARL says it’s possible for feral (AKA “free-roaming”) kittens to successfully adjust to a forever home, but they need lots of exposure to people first.

Same, kittens.

A professional seamstress who was volunteering for the ARL helped spark the idea for this special vest 10 years ago.

The shelter was looking for a tool to help its staff multi-task while socializing feral kittens, a process that can take way more time than the shelter often has to offer.

The hands-free vest allows an ARL staffer to go about their daily tasks while cradling the kittens, monitoring them closely as they safely experience stimuli.

In the seven years since it began using the vest, the ARL says they have significantly expedited the socialization process — feral kittens are now ready for adoption in a speedy 48 hours, if not sooner.

They say they can tell the vest is working when the kittens begin purring (sheds joyful tear), which has been known to happen after just one hour of pouch time.

Because the feral kittens are ready for adoption sooner, they free up space at the ARL faster, too — meaning more kittens can be rescued and adopted from the shelter in less time! Plus, the staff and their kittens look cute AF in the process.
Only a few of these vests exist right now, but the ARL is hoping to make more.