Woman introduces 'hissy and spicy' foster kitten to 'healer' cat, watches her change rapidly

Ashley Saldana, who goes by @soccercatmom on Instagram, always knew that her cat, Poppy, had "magical powers" — the mysterious kind that could heal anyone around her — and that explains why she decided to introduce Sriracha, a foster kitten, to her. The minute Poopy and Siracha met, the world fell silent, as the profound moment echoed louder than words, reminding us that animals, too, love just like us.

"It was finally time to introduce our hissy and spicy foster kitten to Poppy," read the overlay text, as Ashley shared glimpses of the exact moment she realized Poppy and Sriracha were eternally entwined. Poppy was resting in her cozy little space when Ashley got Sriracha and kept the foster kitty right beside her. Surprisingly, there wasn't a second of awkwardness, as Poppy just took the baby in her arms, like she was her own, and kept licking her face, showering Sriracha with the love she deserved. Thankfully, the foster baby, who was still adapting to her life off the streets, reciprocated the love, turning into a "huge pile of purring mush" when Poppy held her. "I knew she needed the first meeting with Poppy but didn't realize just how much," Ashley added.

For centuries, cats have been labeled as 'unaffectionate,' but a study led by Dr. Krysten Vitale from Oregon State University reveals that felines form bonds and are as affectionate as dogs and human infants. In the video, we saw two cats — Poppy and Sriracha — being affectionate towards each other, but this bond is also possible between felines and other caregivers. "In both dogs and cats, attachment to humans may represent an adaptation of the offspring-caretaker bond. Attachment is a biologically relevant behavior. Our study indicates that when cats live in a state of dependency with a human, that attachment behavior is flexible, and the majority of cats use humans as a source of comfort," Vitale said.

Meanwhile, when Ashley shared the beautiful 'first meeting' video of Poopy and the foster kitten, the post received an outpouring of love on social media. For instance, @racechic77 commented, "This is absolutely the most precious thing ever! This is a true testament to the power of love." A user who goes by @anndeltredici shared, "Magical and very touching moment. They miss their mom, and Poppy sure knows what's going on. I think you were so smart to keep Poppy; she's a very special being."

Similarly, @ryans34 said, "Aww, this completely melted my heart. Sriracha just needs a mama's loving touch to get her through this transition. She is going to be such a loving girl. Thank you, God, for the gift of Poppy. Poppy is truly magical and has such a loving and caring way about her. We all need a Poppy in our lives!" Another user who goes by @beanies15 on Instagram revealed, "My rescue kitten was just like that with my 1-year-old cat that I already had. Maybe being so young makes them feel like it’s their mother." @lovespiritjourney commented, "Poppy is definitely a healer. So glad you found her gift to offer to other cats." Echoing the sentiments, @melaniecourage pointed out, "The way Poppy puts up her paw when you lay Sriracha with her... I am just crying over a couple of cats on the internet."

You can follow Ashley Saldana (@soccercatmom) on Instagram for more cat-related content.