Butterbean, who’s only nine months old, is way too thin. She’s also way too exhausted for a kitten who should still be playing, enjoying her kittenhood. Instead, Butterbean is recovering from a trauma caused by lack of caring on her owners’ part. While she was half-grown, because she wasn’t spayed, little Butterbean had kittens.

She was lucky. Butterbean survived. Some too-tiny mamas don’t. Butterbean is lucky, too, because she’s now safely resting in the shelter, after being a wonderful mother, despite her age.

Most of all, Butterbean is lucky because she’s spayed, vaccinated and has a chance to find a home. Maybe Butterbean will even be lucky enough to go somewhere where people will let her play, like she should have gotten to do before.