When Misha, a four-week-old stray kitten with a fractured hind leg, was transferred to the ASPCA^® Kitten Nursery from Animal Care Centers of NYC’s Manhattan shelter, her difficult life took a turn toward a brighter future.

Weighing just seven ounces, Misha was too young for surgery. She also had limited mobility in her right hind leg—vets thought it might need to be amputated.

That’s when Claire B., an ASPCA foster caregiver, stepped in. For nearly six weeks, Claire provided Misha with a quiet respite in her family’s apartment. In this time, Claire exposed Misha to different household sounds and people to socialize the small kitten and increase her chances for adoption. Claire was also adamant about restricting Misha’s activity, and her leg eventually healed on its own—the best outcome anyone could have wished for.

“A foster can make the difference between life and death because tiny kittens can’t survive on their own in a shelter,” says Tina Reddington, Director of the Los Angeles ASPCA Volunteer Program.

It didn’t take adorable Misha long to find a home once her foster care ended. Claire returned Misha to the ASPCA, and on the same day Misha was spayed, she was adopted by Olivia and Kurt of Queens, New York.

Olivia, who had never had a cat before, and Kurt, who had cats growing up and yearned for a kitten, visited the ASPCA on Kurt’s birthday.

“We saw a volunteer playing with Misha, and we knew we had to adopt her,” says Olivia. “It was love at first sight.”

Now called Piper, the rambunctious and curious kitten is adjusting well in her new home.

“She really trusts us and knows she belongs here,” says Olivia, who admits to a “learning curve” being a first-time kitten owner. “You can’t train a kitten like a puppy; they learn in their own time. But Piper can fetch and is obsessed with spring toys.”

“We’re really happy to have her; she’s part of our family,” adds Kurt.

That’s sweet music to the ears of foster caregivers like Claire—knowing the vulnerable animal they helped save is thriving in a loving home.