At the “Cat Shelter Limburg” in Belgium, Martina Vos received an unusual call one chilly autumn morning. A man had found a small, black creature and suspected it might be a kitten in need of help. Eager to assist, Martina immediately set out to collect the animal.
When she arrived at the scene, she found a tiny, dark furball that did indeed look like a kitten at first glance. But something about it didn’t sit right. The animal’s ears were smaller, its body too slender, and its eyes seemed a little too wide. Martina’s instincts told her this wasn’t an ordinary kitten, but she couldn’t quite place why. After searching the area for other kittens or signs of a mother, she decided to take the animal to a vet for a proper examination.
The vet confirmed the animal was female, but the species remained unclear. Puzzled, Martina reached out to a nearby wildlife center, hoping for more clarity. After examining the creature, the wildlife experts delivered the unexpected news: it wasn’t a kitten at all, but a young fox cub. Foxes, especially at such a young age, can easily be mistaken for kittens due to their small size, dark fur, and rounded faces.
Martina was taken aback but also deeply moved. She had always felt a personal connection to foxes—her last name, Vos, means “fox” in Dutch, and she had long dreamed of encountering one in the wild. Now, fate had brought her face to face with one in need of care.
The fox cub was transferred to a wildlife shelter in the UK, where it would grow strong and eventually be released back into the wild. As Martina watched it leave, she felt a bittersweet satisfaction. She had given the fox a chance at life, fulfilling a dream in the process.