Kittens Found in a Chicken Coop Delight the Internet: 'It Takes a Village'

One TikTok user's adorable video of kittens in a chicken coup has delighted the internet this week.

In a video shared on March 3, Kierstyn Rodgers—who uses the TikTok handle kierstynrodgers—films as she walks into the chicken coup and among the chickens, opens the small structure to reveal a mother cat with her kittens.

With more than 320,000 views and thousands of likes, the delightful video has melted hearts and can be seen here.

Spring often kicks off what is known as kitten season—as the weather begins to get warmer and female cats that have not been spayed are in heat, litters of kittens will be born around the country. Female cats have a 60-day gestation period, and shelters will often become overwhelmed with kittens from March to October.

Cats will often have around four to six kittens per litter, and many cats will get pregnant more than once in a year. Pregnant cats are known for being picky about where they choose to give birth, often looking for a place that is concealed and warm.

Viewers of the viral video were not surprised to see that the clever mother cat had opted for the chicken coop. One commenter said: "It's warm and safe, smart move mama," while another wrote: "It's the nesting box, that's where the nest is supposed to be."

After spotting a chicken alongside the cat and her kittens in the video, some TikTok viewers joked they were "co-parenting." Another commenter said: "Guard chicken! She's the nurse and asking you to leave."

"Aww, mamas sticking together," wrote one commenter on the TikTok video. While another user wrote: "It takes a village!"

One TikTok user commented: "What kind of eggs did those hatch out of?!"

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says that kittens are one of the most vulnerable populations in animal shelters. If you find newborn kittens, they say that removing them from their current environment might not always be the best thing.

Particularly if the kittens do not appear injured, are under two months of age and you have seen their mother, it is likely that the mom cat is taking good care of her new babies. Providing the mom and her kittens with food and dry, clean shelter is a sufficient action at that stage, rather than removing them from where they are comfortable.

For advice on what to do if you find newborn kittens, the ASPCA recommends contacting your local animal shelter.

The so-called "built-in babysitters" aren't the first example of chickens and felines spending time together. In March, a cat hanging out in a chicken coop captured viral attention when the feline was filmed surrounded by new feathered friends. Viewers quickly dubbed it: "The most amazing video ever."

Newsweek has reached out to kierstynrodgers for comment.