Rose Hunter had no plans to visit the second Campbell’s Nursery location in Lincoln, Nebraska. She usually stopped by the one closer to home — a familiar place for the self-described “houseplant addict.”
But a spontaneous change in her schedule one summer afternoon led her to the other location. She had no idea that this detour would lead her to a life-changing discovery.
As Hunter pulled into the parking lot, something caught her eye — a small, dark smudge on the pavement. It looked, at first glance, like an ordinary oil spot.
“From a distance, I genuinely thought it was just another stain on the concrete,” Hunter told The Dodo. “But something about it made me stop.”
As she approached, curiosity turned to shock. What she thought was an oil spill was actually a tiny, fuzzy creature — no bigger than the palm of her hand.
“I thought maybe it was a rabbit, then maybe a squirrel,” she said. “But then I realized — it was a newborn kitten. He couldn’t have been more than five days old.”
Even more incredible: the kitten had landed in the dead center of a parking space, where he was somehow safe from any tires.
“It’s truly a miracle he wasn’t crushed,” Hunter said. “If he had been just a few inches to the left or right, this story might have ended very differently.”
Without hesitation, Hunter scooped up the fragile kitten and brought him into her car. Unsure what to do next, she phoned the nursery to ask if anyone had seen stray or pregnant cats on the property.
No one had. So she called a local vet and set up an appointment, then brought the kitten home to keep him warm and safe through the night.
The next day, still hoping the kitten’s mother might return, she placed him in a box near where she’d found him. But no one came.
That’s when she turned to Facebook for help — and found it. An old friend connected her with a woman whose cat had recently given birth. The nursing mom had room in her heart (and milk supply) for one more.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw him latch on for the first time,” Hunter said. “It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed.”
The little kitten spent six cozy weeks with his foster mom and siblings, growing stronger by the day. And all the while, Hunter knew exactly where he belonged.
“There was never any question,” she said. “From the moment I saw him, I knew I was going to be his person. And his name — it had to be Campbell.”
Today, Campbell is thriving in his forever home. He spends his days chasing toys, perfecting his somersaults, and making his mom laugh with his endless antics.
“He’s like a little cartoon come to life,” Hunter said. “So expressive, so silly, and just full of personality. He brings me joy every single day.”
