Erin Schmitt, the center's foster program supervisor, says that Ballerina is "in love with" Cleopatra. The caring, maternal cat has instinctively given the orphaned kitten the love and care she never got from her own mom.

"Animals are amazing. It's as though Ballerina sensed a need in Cleo and decided to not only provide her nourishment but provide her all the love she'd been missing," Schmitt said.

It was a heartwarming story just in time for Mother's Day. Now, all the cats are looking forward to happy lives in new forever homes.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center says that Ballerina and her kittens Bean, Biscuit, and Bunny will all be available soon for adoption. Cleopatra will stay in the center a bit longer for final health checks.

If you are interested in giving any of these cats a good home, you can keep an eye on the center's cat adoption page.

What a sweet, caring cat. It just goes to show how caring animals can be and how strong a mom's maternal instincts are.