From Critical to Cuddly: Angelica, Andre & Alma’s Journey
Jun 10, 2025
Angelica, Andre, and Alma were critically ill, with medical needs beyond what Chicago Animal Care and Control could provide. PAWS Chicago rushed to their rescue and gave them a second chance at life. Thanks to expert medical care and the warmth of a loving foster home, these once-fragile kittens are now healthy, playful, and full of purrs.







Angelica, Andre, and Alma were out of time at Chicago Animal Care and Control—critically ill and in need of rescue by the end of the day. All three kittens were suffering from severe upper respiratory infections and were so congested they couldn’t eat. Alma’s eye had already ruptured, and Angelica’s was dangerously close. Without immediate medical care and a foster home to step in, they wouldn’t survive.
Thankfully, the team at PAWS Chicago sprang into action. The kittens were stabilized, and the PAWS team knew a foster environment would increase their chances of recovery exponentially. That’s where the Assistant Manager of Foster Care, Yara Cruz, stepped in. She brought the three little angels home.
Angelica, the most fragile, had to be separated from her siblings for intensive treatment. She was weak, sick, and couldn’t regulate her body temperature. But everything changed when she was finally well enough to rejoin her brother and sister.
“She was so happy to have her cuddle buddies back,” says Yara. “You wouldn’t have even known how sickly they were—they started playing nonstop!”
Angelica, once fearful and withdrawn, quickly blossomed into a “shoulder kitten” who climbs onto Yara and purrs contentedly. Alma, despite her damaged eye, is a fearless explorer who tumbles around the room with Andre, the biggest lovebug of the group. He’s even befriended Yara’s PAWS alum cat, Ducky, and follows Yara everywhere.
“Caring for sick kittens can be daunting at first—so many meds, so much uncertainty,” says Yara. “But the PAWS Foster team always has your back. With time, routines form, treatments lessen, and it's so rewarding to witness the transformation into healthy, playful kittens with tubby bellies!”
Supported by PAWS robust medical care and nutrition from our partners at Purina, these kittens are now thriving. Alma will undergo surgery to remove her eye once she’s big enough—but in the meantime, she’s happy, active, and deeply loved.
“To anyone thinking about fostering sick or injured kittens,” Yara adds, “keep an open mind. Most illnesses pass, and they heal faster in a loving foster home. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of their journey to adoption.”
Apply to Foster here