Donald and Aggie Cooper were on a long road trip from Texas to Pennsylvania to drop off some foster dogs when Donald spotted a ball of yellow fur on the side of the highway. Donald wasn’t sure what he’d seen exactly, but he suspected it might be a kitten.
The couple was almost certain the kitten was dead, but they knew they had to check just in case. They decided to turn the van around to investigate further.
“I had to get out to check on the kitten because it was too dangerous for him,” Aggie told The Dodo. “The cars were passing our van so close and fast it was shaking the whole van.”
As Aggie got out of the van to check on the baby, she braced herself for him to be dead. Lying next to him, she saw his mother, who tragically was already deceased.
“I touched the kitten to see if he was alive,” Aggie said. “When I did, I saw his little paw move, and that’s when I picked him up.”
The kitten was so young his eyes were barely open. They decided to name him Mile Marker 14, Interstate 70 East, Ohio — but since that’s a bit of a mouthful, they usually just call him Miles. (Their neighbor’s daughter also likes calling him Cheeto Puff.)
They resumed their road trip, now with six dogs and a tiny kitten in tow.
“None of [the dogs] were ever around a cat before,” Donald told The Dodo. “So they were all very excited.”
As they wouldn’t return home to Texas for several weeks and were sleeping in their van, Aggie and Donald had to figure out how to take care of Miles on the road.
Everyone quickly got very close. Miles slept on Aggie’s chest every single night. And as Miles grew, he and the dogs formed an inseparable bond.
“They quickly learned to accept him and realized he was one of the pack,” Aggie said. “Now the kitten thinks he is a dog and has no fear of them. He plays with our foster dogs, who adore him and shower him with affection.”
Miles’ story is a great reminder to make sure to look out for animals who might need your help.
“Now I realize how important it is to check every animal that looks ‘dead’ on the side of the road,” Aggie said. “If we hadn’t turned around and stopped, I don’t think the kitten would have made it.”
Now Miles is 7 weeks old and available for adoption. It goes without saying that he’d be perfect for a family with dogs.
“He’s just a crazy kitten,” Donald said. “Energetic, wild.”
It’s a miracle that after everything Miles went through, he’s healthy and happy. Now all he needs is a
forever home.